Everton closely watch new right-back with bargain transfer possibly on cards already - report

Yukhym Konoplya could be the solution to Everton’s transfer woes.

Everton failed to sign a right-back in the summer, and David Moyes has been forced to utilise Jake O’Brien in the position.

The Irishman is naturally a centre-back, and traditional right-backs Seamus Coleman and Nathan Patterson have not been able to stay fit.

The Toffees have been linked with several options already, but Konoplya could prove to be the most appealing choice.

Why is Konoplya such a good option for Everton?

Everton have the likes of Emil Holm and Brooke Norton-Cuffy on their shortlist, and Konoplya is the latest name to emerge.

A report from Florian Plettenberg on 14 January named the Blues as one of the clubs that are closely monitoring the Shakhtar Donetsk star.

It states that the 26-year-old is a free agent in the summer, which could open the door to a bargain transfer.

However, Ajax and Werder Bremen are also interested, with the latter already holding talks over a potential move.

• Read More: Everton guilty of laziest scouting ever as bid submitted for next David Moyes signing

What would Konoplya bring to Everton?

The Ukrainian is an experienced player, with 26 caps for his nation, including appearances in the European Championships and the UEFA Nations League.

At club level, he has made 109 appearances in his country’s top-flight, with seven goals and 16 assists in those matches and a further seven appearances in the Championship round.

He has also featured 15 times in the Champions League, with three assists to his name in that competition.

Therefore, he should give the Toffees a kind of attacking threat that they have been lacking in recent years, and that supporters have been yearning for.

The likes of O’Brien, Coleman or Patterson simply do not provide enough chances down the flanks, and it is a significant concern which Konoplya would ease.

He would already have familiarity with current Blues star Vitalii Mykolenko, which could ease his adaptation into life on Merseyside.

He could help him with the language, the cultural difference and perhaps most importantly, getting settled on the pitch.

It remains to be seen whether the Blues step up their interest from the initial monitoring, but it may prove to be a clever move if they do.

Stay up to date this winter with our Everton transfer tracker. Click to see every done deal at Hill Dickinson, plus expert reaction from our team of writers.

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