2025/26 Vitalii Mykolenko

Zatara said:
Im not sure it is.

Ive had a think about this and weve signed a 19 year old who has come through as a top prospect for both Barca & Bayern.

This player was also at the club world cup with Bayern and has 3 caps for Morocco and been in 5 squads.

To top that off he had 1/2 a season in La Liga with super stats.

Just think about that for a moment and then perhaps consider that Aznou seemed to be thrown in cold against Roma.

He was signed on July 29th and we played Roma on August 9th. He also had limited at best preseason.

Is it not possible that Moyes barely using £35-40mil Dibling who has had a season in the premier league is also a possible pattern with not using Aznou?

I think there is. He's been on the bench a number of times this season and not even been given 5mins.
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He WAS a top prospect with Barca and Bayern. He played about 20 minutes with Bayern. They let him go. He hasn't made an appearance for Morocco in 2025, even though he was a regular starter for Valladolid. Who were absolutely awful when he played for them.

It's not as if Moyes is keeping Alphonso Davies on the bench. The guy just isn't ready yet and that fine.

Dibling, on the other hand, logged 2200 minutes in the PL last season. The situations aren't similar, at all.
 

pfim said:
He WAS a top prospect with Barca and Bayern. He played about 20 minutes with Bayern. They let him go. He hasn't made an appearance for Morocco in 2025, even though he was a regular starter for Valladolid. Who were absolutely awful when he played for them.

It's not as if Moyes is keeping Alphonso Davies on the bench. The guy just isn't ready yet and that fine.

Dibling, on the other hand, logged 2200 minutes in the PL last season. The situations aren't similar, at all.
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This is what i just replied to someone in the transfer thread.
Zatara said:
I didnt know this but it was mentioned in the athletic that both Garner (which we knew) and Mykolenko had 1 year options.

I wouldnt go out and sign a LB if i had high hopes for Aznou.

My guess is that we extend Mykolenko by a season. Then make a decision in the summer whether Aznou would be able to start.

Id be really shocked if Moyes signed a LB in Jan.
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What youre neglecting to mention is that Bayern have both Davies and Guerreiro who is top class as well.

Guerreiro was happy to stay and challenge Davies for a place and is in his 30s so probably quite comfortable.

Aznou had a buyout in his contract which Everton took up. He was not for sale and Bayern were not happy to lose him at all.

Theres absolutely nothing that points to a player who is 'poor'. I suspect thats a reason we signed him, hes not poor.

I do agree that he may not be "ready".

Was Alcaraz not ready as a 22 year old 10? Is Dibling not ready to get more than throwaway minutes?

Most of the facts point to Moyes not wanting to use a young defender. When has he ever - i actually cant remember?
 
The other thing to consider is Dibling played for Southampton, a club that was in trouble all season. He logged tons of minutes because he’s literally all they had. We’re fairly solid on the wings so it’s tough for him to break in. I actually question the decision to bring him to Everton. Not too dissimilar is the situation with Liam Delap. Tons of minutes on an Ipswich team that was going down. Goes to Chelsea, rides the bench.
 
Zatara said:
Most of the facts point to Moyes not wanting to use a young defender. When has he ever - i actually cant remember?
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Actually got me thinking as well. First thought was that Moyes was the one to sign Stones, but all he did in the 6 months before he left was put him on the bench a few times. He was around 18-19 then. Also remember he chased after Kyle Walker (and the other Kyle that was more highly rated, they both signed for Spurs that summer).

Baines and Coleman were like 21 and 22 respectively when he handed them their first EFC games, and both were actually played quite early on after signing. They also had ample experience from before.

Not counting other things like the Europa League dead rubbers where he fielded a squad of schoolboys, or other anomalies like Jack Rodwell (debut age 16 in midfield, could technically play and occasionally, much later, played centre back)... I can't think of a youngster getting a debut in defence

Moyes record with blooding youngsters used to be very aggressive. It feels like it has changed. Might be the game has changed a bit anyway.

Anyway, my impression is that getting them ready in terms of mentality or physicality is what's going on with Aznou and Dibling. Though that would only be speculation.
 

Dario Terracotta said:
Really restricts us as offers so little going forward,we have a similar problem on the right but do not (crocks apart)have a viable right back,Mykolenko is our specialist left back but in this day and age we have to attract an upgrade and quick otherwise it will restrict our options of play.
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If we only make one signing in Jan it should be left back. Has clearly been a priority position to replace for years.
 


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