Vitalii Mykolenko’s contract latest: Here’s everything Everton fans need to know
Vitalii Mykolenko has been under the microscope at Everton this season.
Mykolenko has played 22 times in the Premier League so far this season, but has recently seen Jarrad Branthwaite picked ahead of him.
The 26-year-old has registered one assist for the Blues, and won a total of 50 per cent of his duels on the ground and in the air, per Sofascore.
The Ukrainian left-back could wave goodbye to the Hill Dickinson Stadium in the near future, as his contract situation has not been resolved.
When is Mykolenko’s current Everton deal set to expire?
Mykolenko is still on the four-and-a-half-year deal that he signed when he initially joined the Blues in 2022.
He linked up with the Toffees from Dynamo Kyiv in a £17million deal after impressing in his home country.
That contract runs until 30 June 2026, and he will depart if a new deal cannot be reached with the Merseysiders.
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Is a new contract on the cards for Mykolenko?
Everton are understood to be in the process of sorting a new contract for the 51-cap Ukraine international.
A report from Ukrainian journalist Igor Burbas, via Sport.ua, in January claimed that the Toffees had an option to extend his deal by a year and were set to exercise that.
It stated that Mykolenko only wants to continue at the elite level, and will stay in L4, rather than moving to Galatasaray in Turkey.
What has Mykolenko said about his contract?
While he has not directly addressed his intentions, Mykolenko did hit out over speculation that he was not willing to discuss fresh terms with the Blues.
Reports in Ukraine had claimed that the full-back was stalling on talks, but the player claimed that was not true at all.
Speaking on Vatsko Live in November, a YouTube channel managed by Ukrainian journalist, Viktor Vatsko, he said: “That I don’t want to negotiate [a contract] with Everton is a complete lie, because we just haven’t talked about it yet.
“I don’t even think about it because I like to play for this club, I get a kick out of it here, that’s the most important thing for me. My family is comfortable living here. Basically, there is nothing more to say.
“It doesn’t affect me at all. I know how the coaching staff feels about me, how the club feels about me.
“Even if there are no offers in January or before January, it doesn’t bother me because, as you know me personally, I am a professional and will work out my contract 100%.”
What has David Moyes said about the situation?
David Moyes has made no secret of his desire to keep Mykolenko around beyond the summer.
Speaking in December, he confirmed that he planned to keep the defender, saying: “We’re in talks with Myko as well. These have been ongoing, we’re doing a lot more things behind the scenes.
“He’s done well against quite a few of them, the wide boys this year and there’s a lot of really good wide players in the Premier League at the moment, exciting wingers if you want to go back to those words. I think he’s done quite well so hopefully we can retain him.”
Whether the Blues can reach an agreement with the player remains to be seen, but Moyes stance on the matter is crystal clear.
He would prefer if the Friedkin Group could come up with the finances to convince the Ukrainian to stick around.
For the latest on Mykolenko’s Everton contract, check out Football Insider for news and insights.