Plying his trade with Shakhtar Donetsk in the Ukrainian Premier League, Viktor Kovalenko is currently one of the most promising young talents outside the top five leagues of Europe. A product of Shakhtar’s youth system, Kovalenko made his senior competitive debut for his boyhood club back in 2015 and has earned rave reviews for his rapid development.
A regular for Ukraine at all youth levels, Kovalenko has already made his cut into the senior international level and was a part of the team that participated at the European Championship in 2016. The 23-year-old midfielder has impressed with his consistently impressive performances for Shakhtar, accumulating 22 goals and 10 assists from 144 appearances across all competitions. As a matter of fact, he has also proved his mettle at the European front, putting in multiple impressive shifts in the midfield in the Champions League and Europa League.
Kovalenko is a technically-gifted and tactically versatile midfielder who is comfortable in both central and attacking roles in the middle of the park. While he has the agility, sharpness and the creativity of a No.10, he has the height and physicality to thrive in a deeper role as well.
The Ukrainian ace is known for his composure in possession and wonderful range of passing, dictating the tempo of the game by keeping the ball moving in the midfield.
A player with a keen eye for picking out the right pass, Kovalenko is not only adept at creating chances with his fluent passing but he also makes dangerous runs into the box to link up with his teammates and score goals. The 23-year-old has developed the defensive aspect of his game as well and is more than capable of chipping in with a few tackles.
To put things into perspective, Kovalenko has shown enough promise at Shakhtar and a move to the Premier League might help him take his career to the next level. To be more precise, West Ham should strike a deal for him next summer in a bid to strengthen their midfield options.
The Hammers currently sit 10th in the standings and they are still in with a chance of securing the final Europa League playoff spot. Manuel Pellegrini’s side have enjoyed a decent enough campaign in the Premier League this season but things could have been better for them without the injuries to several of their key players.
West Ham had as many as ten players on the treatment table midway through the season and they need to find a solution to their growing list of casualties in the midfield. Declan Rice has been an ever-present figure at the heart of the midfield but Mark Noble hasn’t hit top gear, with summer recruits Jack Wilshere and Carlos Sanchez spending time on the sidelines.
The Hammers need a more balanced central midfielder who can add stability to the midfield and also provide an attacking outlet. And Viktor Kovalenko certainly fits the bill at east London. That said, they should start pursuing an interest in him ahead of the summer transfer window.