Dynamo Kyiv coach Mircea Lucescu has confirmed Vitaliy Mykolenko is set to join Everton in January.
Current Toffees left-back Lucas Digne is out of favour under manager Rafael Benitez, fuelling speculation that the club will look to sign an alternative in the mid-season window.
The Echo understands that Mykolenko is a target for Everton and after scouting the 22-year-old for months, they believe he is one of the best full-back prospects in European football.
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Mykolenko is a product of the Dynamo youth system and has cemented his place as a starter in the team since making his debut as a teenager in 2018.
The left-back has sampled experience of the Champions League with Dynamo and represented his country in the summer at the European Championships.
Per UA Football (h/t Sport Witness ), Lucescu was asked about the transfer potentially going through.
The 76-year-old said he is pleased Mykolenko is getting his move to the Premier League and that plans are already in place to replace him.
"I am glad that a young player from my team is now moving to Everton," he said. "I mean Mykolenko.
"Another 18-19-year-old footballer will take his place. The rest in defence are 19-20 years old. Therefore, we continue to play as a very young team."
With Digne missing the last three Everton matches, Ben Godfrey has been filling in at left-back with mixed results.
It means that if Mykolenko does arrive in January, he may be thrust straight into the firing line at Goodison Park.
The defender was last in action on December 12 in the 1-1 draw with Zorya Luhansk, with the Ukranian top flight having since gone on their winter break.
