Video Evidence: Vladimir Bystrov (Everton)

Following Everton’s abject performance against Arsenal over the weekend it is unsurprising that the Fourth Estate are now linking the Toffees with a raft of central defenders and holding midfielders.

However, one of the more interesting transfer rumours regarding the Toffees is contained in today’s Independent which links David Moyes with a move for Spartak Moscow’s 25-year-old winger Vladimir Bystrov.

Bystrov began his career at Zenit St Petersburg making 74 appearances and scoring 6 goals. In 2004 he made a move to his present club and since then has appeared 98 times and scored 19 goals for the Red and Whites.

The winger has had a stop-start international career with Gus Hiddink preferring to use the winger as an impact substitute when opponents are tiring. In all he has won 24 international caps and scored 4 goals.

The winger has built a reputation for his electrifying pace (his surname means fast in Russian) which makes him almost impossible to stop when he is in full flow, leading him to become the most fouled player in Russia’s Premier League. He is predominantly right footed and his usual position is on the right wing although he can play on the left. His pace is complemented by his excellent close control which enables him to wriggle out of tight spaces and deliver a telling cross.

One criticism of his playing style is that he is easy to read. His pace has meant that he has always been able to beat full-backs on the outside. Much like Theo Walcott this can make him easy to deal with and he will have to learn to beat players by coming inside the full back. He has also suffered a serious a knee injury for which he spent 14 weeks on the treatment table in 2007.

Bystrov would be an excellent addition to Everton’s squad. He can provide the pace which is sorely lacking in the Toffees first eleven as well as telling crosses to Jo, Yakubu and Saha to feed off. With Arshavin, Pavlyuchenko and Zhirkov now plying their trade for Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea respectively a Premier League move will be an attractive option for the winger.

Everton fan websites have been abuzz that David Moyes will make a big signing this week and Bystrov may be that player. Spartak Moscow have removed the player’s profile from its website leading to speculation that the move will be completed in the next couple of days.

Video evidence of Vladimir Bystrov can be seen here.