Everton transfer target Yarmolenko urged to make Premier League move

Ukraine coach Mykhaylo Fomenko says Dynamo Kiev star could shine in England.

Everton transfer target Andriy Yarmolenko has been urged to move to the Premier League.

Ukraine coach Mykhaylo Fomenko believes the Dynamo Kiev star, who has been tracked extensively by the Blues during the past 12 months, is capable of shining in English football, and says he “must” take the opportunity to do so if possible.

Yarmolenko scored the winner for his country in their friendly win over Wales on Monday night, his 23rd goal in 57 internationals.

Fomenko said: “If he is wanted by the top English clubs then, yes, he can show his best in the Premier League and he must do this.

“He is the leader of our team and leader of our squad.”

Yarmolenko has made no secret of his desire to play in England, stating earlier this year that it would be better for him to play at a club like Everton rather than Barcelona.

“For me it is important to play matches,” he said. “If I do not play twice a week, I have nowhere to throw out the emotions and energy. My family will go mad.”

Manchester City's Eliaquim Mangala (left) and Dynamo Kiev's Andriy Yarmolenko battle for the ball during the UEFA Champions League match at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester. Peter Byrne/PA Wire

Everton tried to sign the 26-year-old last summer, but were unable to get a deal done. They held fresh talks with the player’s representatives in December, but were again left frustrated in their dealings with Dynamo Kiev.

In February, it was reported that Yarmolenko had turned down a big-money move to the Chinese Super League, with his agent Vadim Shabliy reaffirming his ambition to play in the Premier League.

Sunderland set to sack former Ivory Coast's Eboue after FIFA ban

Sunderland said Thursday they intend to terminate the contract of Emmanuel Eboue before he had even kicked a ball in anger for the club after FIFA ordered the defender to serve a one-year ban over fees owed to a former agent.

However, the Ivory Coast international can automatically end the ban if he pays the money to his ex-agent Sebastien Boisseau, the world governing body said.

FIFA, announcing the suspension earlier on Thursday, said the ban covers "any football-related activity that will last for one year or until he pays the total outstanding amount owed to his former agent".

In response, Premier League strugglers Sunderland said they had given the 32-year-old former Arsenal player, who joined the north-east side in a short-term deal earlier this month, two weeks' notice.

Eboue has the right of appeal but it now looks as if his Sunderland career could end without him making a single first-team appearance.

"Sunderland AFC has been advised by the Football Association that Emmanuel Eboue has been placed under an immediate suspension from football and all football-related activity for a period of one year, by FIFA," said a club statement.

"The suspension relates to a monetary dispute between the player and a former agent, which precedes his time at Sunderland AFC and was not something that the club was made aware of by the player.

"Eboue signed a contract with Sunderland AFC until the end of the current season and the club has therefore given notice of its intention to terminate the contract. The player has two weeks in which to appeal this decision."

Eboue's ban will be a further setback to Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce's hopes of keeping the club in the lucrative Premier League, with the Black Cats now without Adam Johnson after the club sacked the former England midfielder following his admission of sexual activity with an under-age girl that has since seen the player jailed.

Sunderland, two points shy of safety, continue their quest for Premier League survival against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

A FIFA players' status committee ruled in July 2013 in favour of agent Sebastien Boisseau in a contractual dispute with Eboue. In September 2014, the FIFA disciplinary committee fined the Ivory Coast star 30,000 Swiss francs ($30,000) for failing to comply with the decision.

He was then given a 120-day "grace period" to settle the debt before Boisseau would be entitled to request that a one-year ban be imposed.

Eboue appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport but lost. After a new deadline for payment was set and passed, Boisseau "requested that the one-year ban be imposed on Mr Eboue in accordance with the decision of the FIFA disciplinary committee", said a FIFA statement.