Everton have been linked to several Arsenal players ahead of the summer transfer window.
The Toffees are monitoring Ben White as the Gunners consider selling the England international, while Myles Lewis-Skelly is also of interest to Everton having fallen out of favour under Mikel Arteta this season.
Less recently, Everton have been linked to Gabriel Jesus as well.
It remains to be seen whether any of the trio end up at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, but the chances of Lewis-Skelly arriving appear to have decreased after Fabrizio Romano provided an update on Vitalii Mykolenko.
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Everton set to tie Vitalii Mykolenko down
The reliable Italian journalist now states that the Ukraine international is on the verge of signing a new contract at Everton.
Mykolenko was nearing free agency with his terms expiring at the end of this season, and the rumours involving Lewis-Skelly suggested Everton were considering an outright change at left-back.
However, with a new contract imminent for the Ukrainian, he looks set to keep his spot as the starting left-back under David Moyes next term.
Some Everton fans may argue that Mykolenko could simply be kept on as a backup with a new left-back taking his spot, but with Adam Aznou already at the club in a deputy role, and Jarrad Branthwaite capable of playing there, it now seems highly unlikely that a move for Lewis-Skelly will happen.
The Arsenal No.49 is under contract at the Emirates Stadium until July 2030 anyway, so a deal would require Everton to fork out a fortune – at least £40m, in our view at least.
The Friedkin Group could still bring in another left-back to provide competition for Mykolenko. Matt Targett is being monitored in case Middlesbrough fail to secure promotion.
Don’t hold back, let us know who you want gone this summer 👋
However, the update on Mykolenko makes us doubtful that a significant chunk of the transfer budget will be spent on a marquee option like Lewis-Skelly.
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