Everton target Mykhaylo Mudryk issues positive transfer update that will excite Toffees fans
Everton may have failed in their pursuit of Mykhaylo Mudryk in the summer, but the Ukranian’s latest comments will give the Toffees hope of securing a deal.
Mudryk has risen to fame at Shakhtar Donetsk, and the 21-year-old is now subject to a full-blown bidding war.
Everton have tabled a bid, with a £30million offer in the summer [Fabrizio Romano]. The Toffees were turned down, but Mudryk has since been quoted talking about his love of the Premier League.
When asked by Henry Winter if he’ll ever move to the Premier League, Mudryk told The Times: “Yes, yes, it is possible.
“The Premier League is the best league in the world and everyone wants to play in this league.”
“I’m only at maximum 20 per cent of my potential.”
Writing in his Times article, Winter said of Mudryk: “He is best on the left, as he showed in an electric cameo against Scotland in the World Cup play-offs, including one glorious pass with the outside of his right boot to release Artem Dovbyk at Hampden Park in June, and when breaking behind Celtic’s defence to score left-footed in the Champions League last week.
“Mudryk can also drive through the middle, as he also proved against Celtic when briefly dominating the centre ground and launching an attack down the right. During that 1-1 draw and in the 4-1 win at RB Leipzig (when he also scored), the two-footed Mudryk put in stepovers and Zinédine Zidane-style pirouettes, not for show, but to advance the ball, to beat a man, especially at pace down the left.”
Still hope yet
Everton were the first club to show their admiration of Mudryk in the summer with a submitted bid, and they’ll hope that stands them in good stead for the inevitable bidding war that occurs either in January or next summer.
Mudryk’s superb start to the season for both Ukraine and Shakhtar Donetsk has only seen more clubs enter the race, with Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City all interested in his signature.
There’s no guarantee that Everton will be able to lock horns with those clubs financially, but the Toffees are certainly an attractive option for the talented winger.
Mudryk would likely replace the wantaway Anthony Gordon at Goodison Park, and in doing that he’d be promised a permanent spot in Frank Lampard’s starting XI.
Furthermore, joining Everton would give Mudryk a chance to play alongside compatriot Vitaliy Mykolenko, who has come on leaps and bounds under Lampard’s tenure.
Lampard’s coaching has also progressed the likes of Gordon and Nathan Patterson. Slowly but surely, Lampard is making Goodison Park a very attractive destination for Europe’s promising stars.