Maksym Koval- Ukraine's next goalkeeping sensation
Club: Dynamo Kyiv
Nationality: Ukraine
Age: 18
Height: 1.89 m / 6.2 ft
Weight: 86 kg / 189 lbs
Position: Goalkeepe
Background and History
Koval is a product of Metalurg Zaporizhya youth academy, playing two years of senior level before heading out to Dynamo Kyiv , including a fantastic 2009/10 season as the first keeper of the team, playing 22 matches and conceding 26 goals.
Koval was already playing in the Ukrainian Premier League when he was 16, making him a very mature player for his age.
Last season Dynamo Kyiv acquired his services for an estimated transfer fee of €3M, signing him until the summer of 2015, with Koval having an immediate impact on the team in his debut season.
Koval surprisingly established himself as the first choice keeper for Dynamo, due to the absence of 36-year-old Ukranian international and Dynamo Kyiv captain Oleksandr Shovkovskiy, playing in 17 matches in all competitions for Dynamo last season, until naturally losing his place in the line-up when Shovkovskiy returned from his injury.
Dynamo Kyiv currently hold an impressive arsenal of keepers with veteran Shovkovskiy still holding onto the starting role, the experienced Stanislav Bohush (27) and Denys Boyko and Artem Kychak, who are both considered to be promising young talents.
Strengths
Koval's strongest quality is his great reflexes, which is why he is also good in penalties and one-on-one situations, holding excellent aerial abilities.
For a goalkeeper controlling the ball with your feet is a serious advantage and Koval's foot playing ability is outstanding, able to help out his defenders under the pressing of the opponent.
Weaknesses
Koval is not such a tall goalkeeper, but he is very good in the air and is able to position himself well inside the box, although he may sometime hesitate too long to come out of the goal-line for high balls.
Mentality
Although very young, as already mentioned, Koval has received much experience so far in his short career at both domestic and international level, including appearances in both Champions League and Europa League, so he is a fairly mature and confident player.
Additionally, he is described as a cool-headed player, who has the right combination between intelligence and natural instincts.
Current Situation
In the beginning of the season, just after his move to Dynamo Kyiv , Koval was linked to Arsenal in their endless frenzy goalkeeping search for a new talent at the post. With Tottenham and Bordeaux targeting Koval around the same time, but no true offers ever came through.
Should he stay at Dynamo, Koval should become the main replacement for Shovkovskiy after he retires (which may not be so soon) and being an 18 year old keeper, he should still have the patience to wait it out.
Although, in the case of receiving very few minutes of playing time on the pitch and with several more talented goalkeepers at Dynamo's dispense, a move out is certainly not out of the question, especially with another top-quality keeper currently linked with a move to Dynamo.
Dynamo head coach Yuri Syomin has been reportedly looking to sign a former player of his, Brazilian goalkeeper Mainato Guilherme, who has played under Syomin at Lokomotiv Moskva- a move which could change the whole picture for Kolav.
To sign Koval, the pleasure may cost a club an estimated value of around €4M, a price which can gradually go down in the case of being sidelined in the coming season.
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