Everton rejected £26m Vitalii Mykolenko bid as new contract stance emerges
Vitalii Mykolenko has endured an injury-ridden start to the season with Everton, but he could have left the Toffees in the summer.
After missing the start of the season, Mykolenko made his return from injury against Mansfield Town in the Carabao Cup.
And the defender played the full 90 minutes as Everton beat Wolves 3-2 in the Premier League less than two weeks ago.
Just days into the international break, however, Mykolenko left Ukraine’s national camp with an injury after an MRI scan had revealed further issues.
Mykolenko was missing from training for Everton on Monday, and the 26-year-old is not expected to be present for the visit of Aston Villa on Saturday.
Serie A giant lodged huge bid for Vitalii Mykolenko
Mykolenko is among several players reportedly set to begin contract talks with Everton over the coming months, with the defender’s current deal set to expire in 2026.
The Ukraine international was largely ever-present for the Toffees last season, making 35 appearances in the Premier League.
Everton signed Adam Aznou from Bayern Munich this summer to finally provide the defender with some cover, but the 19-year-old’s start to the season has also been riddled with injuries.
Mykolenko has often split opinion, with some hailing the 26-year-old for his solidity in defence, whilst others would prefer a full-back more capable of going forward.
| Vitalii Mykolenko | Premier League- last 365 days (per 90) |
| Interceptions | 1.27 |
| Tackles | 1.92 |
| Clearances | 4.22 |
| Crosses | 3.07 |
| Take-ons attempted | 0.53 |
But the defender’s performances clearly impressed elsewhere, with it emerging on Wednesday that the Ukrainian was the subject of a sizable bid in the summer.
Ihor Burbas reported on 10 September that Serie A champions Napoli had a £26million bid for Mykolenko rejected by Everton, with the former Dynamo Kyiv man not keen on the move.
Zorya Londonsk, who were the first to report that the defender had left the Ukraine national camp, translated the report.
Burbas added that Mykolenko is not planning to enter talks over a new contract until January, with Everton holding the option of an additional year in his current deal.
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Injury issues could make Everton rue transfer decision
On the face of it, Everton’s decision to keep Mykolenko at the club makes complete sense.
The 26-year-old was a key part of the defence last season, and replacing him for just £26m would not be an easy feat.
But the Toffees will hope Mykolenko’s injury troubles do not make them regret that decision, with depth on the left of defence already lacking as it is.
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