Everton looking to sign Shakhtar Donetsk’s Ukrainian international defender in January
According to TEAMtalk, the Toffees are interested in signing Shakhtar Donetsk’s Ukraine international defender, and a January transfer is being discussed.
On 26 September, the outlet reported on their website that the Tofferes are also looking to add a new player to their squad for the winter transfer window amid speculation of interest from England.
The 59-cap international has spent his entire career at the now-rebranded Ukrainian giants, apart from two loan spells, and has been linked with moves to Premier League rivals West Ham and Crystal Palace, as well as Burnley and Sheff Utd.
Matviyenko has the ability to play as a centre-back or a left-back and is on a contract until 2027 but looks set to leave the club in the near future.
Looking ahead, it would appear that the left-back position is more in need of assistance than the centre, but versatility is something all managers value.
Tarkowski and Branthwaite appear to have secured their places in the centre of the park, and Ben Godfrey may now have caught up with Michael Keane as well, but the full-back situation has been much more uncertain.
Vitaliy Mykolenko is the Ukraine international left-back, but it has been reported that manager Sean Dyche does not trust him, having selected Ashley Young in the first four games of the season.
The fact that he has now brought him into the starting lineup for the last two games, including the first of the season against Brentford, would seem to suggest that he is changing his mind, but the manager has so far seemed to be torn between playing him on the left or on the right with Nathan Patterson.
Matviyenko appears to be more of a veteran presence, which is something that Dyche prefers, so if a deal does come off, he could be a viable option in the new year. The Shakhtar man has also plenty of experience in Europe.
However, there will be questions about the financial side of things unless the situation changes dramatically with a takeover of the club by 777 Partners.
It is understood that the club have only paid out the loan fee for Aron Danjuma so far in the summer, so it is a question mark as to whether he would be an affordable option.
What else is going on at Everton?
There has been another £400m+ development at the club amid the takeover
