Everton: David Moyes will know who's next as Vitalii Mykolenko signs new contract

Everton have secured Vitalii Mykolenko's future ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

The Toffees had the option to extend the left-back's soon-to-be-expiring deal until 2027, but he has now put pen to paper on a long-term contract.

David Moyes relied on the Ukraine international as his first-choice in the backline in the 2025-26 campaign, with Adam Aznou hardly featuring for the Blues after his move from Bayern Munich last summer.

Mykolenko has committed his future at Hill Dickinson Stadium until 2029 after putting pen to paper on a new three-year deal.

The Merseyside outfit signed the 27-year-old for an initial £17million fee in January 2022 and he has since been a regular starter for them.

Idrissa Gueye next in line for new Everton contract

One thing the Toffees failed to do last summer was keep key players like Abdoulaye Doucoure and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, losing them for free.

The Friedkin Group seemed to have learned from the previous management's errors, with the likes of James Tarkowski, Jordan Pickford, James Garner and Michael Keane signing fresh terms recently.

Idrissa Gueye has been a regular feature in Moyes' plans at Hill Dickinson Stadium and it would make complete sense to keep the Senegal international even if the Blues reinforce their engine room.

The 36-year-old midfielder still has the quality to perform at a high level for the Merseyside outfit, as he proved in the 2025-26 campaign and his experience will surely come in handy next season.

Friedkin Group have midfield plan in place at Hill Dickinson Stadium

Sources told Football Insider in May that Everton were one of the teams eyeing Hayden Hackney, with the midfielder's exit deemed "almost inevitable" if Middlesbrough failed to win promotion.

Boro lost the Championship play-offs final to Hull City and speculation around the 23-year-old Englishman has grown since.

TFG should be looking to build a competitive squad for Moyes in L3 and have Hackney on their radar, but it would still make sense to keep Gueye to maintain depth.

Harrison Armstrong's loan move to Preston North End was cut short in January due to a lack of options at the Scottish manager's disposal, and the Toffees should be forced into a similar position next season.