Everton could reunite some fellow countrymen this winter.
Adam Aznou knows Youssef En-Nesyri well from international commitments, as Everton try to sign the Morocco international on loan from Fenerbahce.
Everton also like Callum Wilson, who is familiar with the likes of Jordan Pickford and Jack Grealish from the England side.
Now, the Toffees may also reunite Vitalii Mykolenko with a fellow Ukraine international who rates him highly as Everton shortlist Yukhym Konoplya of Shakhtar Donetsk.
What Yukhym Konoplya has said about Vitalii Mykolenko as Everton consider deal
Florian Plettenburg of Sky Germany believes Everton are monitoring Konoplya as The Friedkin Group aim to find a new right-back for David Moyes.
Seamus Coleman is almost back… does that make a right-back less of a priority in the transfer market? 🧐
If a deal does end up materialising, the 26-year-old has a familiar face to help him settle at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Mykolenko, who he has made 24 appearances alongside for Ukraine.
Konoplya particularly likes the Everton No.16’s crossing ability.
After receiving an assist from the Everton defender during a 2-1 defeat to Albania, the Shakhtar Donetsk No.26 told UAF in 2024: “I knew that Vitalii Mykolenko delivers excellent crosses. I was waiting for the ball to possibly reach the far post.
“I was lucky to strike it so well. Of course, I’m happy to have scored, but it’s just a goal because it didn’t help the team.”
Mykolenko has failed to score or assist in 21 appearances across all competitions so far this season, so the signing of Konoplya could help the 26-year-old become more confident in the final third.
Yukhym Konoplya exit seems very likely this month
It would be a major shock if Shakhtar Donetsk decided not to sell Konoplya this month.
The Ukrainian has already entered the final six months of his contract and is set to leave on a free transfer this summer, so this winter window represents the last chance Shakhtar Donetsk have to receive a fee for the defender.
Name the left-back you’d love to see Everton sign to upgrade Mykolenko, go!
It means Everton have a great chance of signing Konoplya – the main hurdle, in our view, is competition from Werder Bremen and Ajax, as the aforementioned Plettenburg also revealed.
If Everton can convince the right-back himself to join, then we presume Shakhtar Donetsk would have no issues cashing in now, as opposed to losing him for nothing in six months.
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