Michael Keane and Vitalii Mykolenko set to stay as Everton to trigger extensions
Michael Keane and Vitalii Mykolenko look like they will stay at Everton beyond the end of the season.
The duo’s current contracts were set to expire at the conclusion of the current campaign, and there had been no extensions announced.
Keane has been a key figure this season, stepping in when Jarrad Branthwaite has been sidelined with injuries.
Meanwhile, Mykolenko has been David Moyes‘ first-choice left-back, starting over new signing Adam Aznou on a regular basis.
Everton do not have many contracts to sort now, and getting two important squad members signed up is a clever move.
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What are Everton’s plans for Keane and Mykolenko?
Everton needs to build a squad capable of fighting in Europe, in the event that they qualify by their Premier League position.
Keeping the duo helps with that, and a report from The Bobble on 21 April claims that Blues are planning to trigger extensions that will keep the pair around until 2027.
They have made a combined 61 appearances in all competitions so far this season, so having them at the Hill Dickinson next season is vital.
What do Everton still need to sort?
Everton still have issues to sort if they tie down the duo, the most pressing of which is probably the future of Jack Grealish.
The Manchester City loanee, who has been out since January with a foot injury, is keen on joining permanently, but they will need to work out a deal with his club.
| Grealish’s stats for Everton this season | Premier League |
| Matches | 20 |
| Goals | 2 |
| Chances created | 38 |
| Assists | 6 |
| Minutes played | 1,631 |
Idrissa Gueye and Seamus Coleman are the only players whose contracts are set to expire at the moment, but given their leadership abilities, they may well be kept on, to provide experience if the L3 club get into Europe.
Tyrique George’s future is uncertain at the moment, with the Toffees understood to hold a buy option to purchase the Chelsea man after his loan.
Whether they take that up, given his lack of playing time since he joined in the winter transfer window, remains to be seen.
The Friedkin Group, Moyes and the recruitment team have some very interesting choices to make heading into the summer, and what they do may well define the Toffees’ ceiling next season.
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