Expert: Everton 'open door' to Vitalii Mykolenko exit after summer signing
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Callum O'Connell
Tue 9 September 2025 16:32, UK
Adam Aznou’s arrival at Everton may have “opened the door” for Vitalii Mykolenko to leave the club on a free transfer next summer.
That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that David Moyes has a “tough decision” to make about the 26-year-old’s future.
Mykolenko has less than 12 months remaining on his contract at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, with no renewal talks being planned as things stand.
Jordan Pickford is being lined up for a new deal, but doubts have emerged about James Tarkowski and James Garner alongside the Ukraine international.
Decisions on their futures are expected to be made over the course of the season, but with Aznou arriving from Bayern Munich, the pressure is now on the left-back to perform.
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Brown told Football Insider in April that Everton planned to sign new full-backs amid concerns about their current options with Moyes keen to improve his squad.
The former scout, who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, has insisted Aznou is seen as a long-term upgrade on Mykolenko and could force him out of the side.
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“Everton have a tough decision to make with Mykolenko,” he told Football Insider.
“He’s been a regular for them recently and has never looked out of place, but from what I hear they have been looking to upgrade in his position.
“They have been looking to improve both full-backs actually, it was one of their plans in the summer because they feel they are weak in those areas.
“So they went out and got the young lad from Bayern Munich, Aznou.
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“If he now pushes on and proves he can be a key player for them, it opens the door for them to move Mykolenko on because he would be pushed out of the team.
“Everton wanted to have somebody in to replace him before they let him go.
“Now, depending on his performances for the rest of the season and if he finds himself out of the starting XI, they might make the decision not to offer him a new deal.”
Should Aznou cement his place in the Everton starting XI upon his return from injury, Mykolenko may be fearing for his future in Moyes’ side.
Mykolenko has struggled with injury issues this season, and has now been sent home from international duty with Ukraine due to a fresh blow.
Aznou has also been injured during this spell and has not yet been able to seize the opportunity to impress Moyes as part of the starting XI.
However, after playing 80 minutes for Everton’s Under-21 side last week, he looks set to return after the international break in a bid to make his mark.
The Morocco international is poised to play an improved role under Moyes, having been tipped for big things during his time at Bayern Munich.
At just 19 years old, he also has time on his side, and his development is now set to be key to Mykolenko’s future with contract talks on hold.
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