Ukrainian Star Oleksiy Khotsuliak Remains Free Agent Amid Contract Standoff

Ukrainian national team winger Oleksiy Khotsuliak, who was linked with Maccabi Haifa in the summer, is still without a club as the transfer window has closed. Local journalist Mykhailo Spivakovskiy suggested that Khotsuliak might regret turning down offers, stating that the player and his agent are nearing a point of no return. If Khotsuliak does not secure playing time by mid-October, Spivakovskiy believes he will no longer be in demand, and that the player "made a mistake by not accepting offers."

Khotsuliak, who turns 29 in December, became a free agent after his contract with Ukrainian club Polissya Zhytomyr expired. He is considered a significant player in Ukrainian football, reportedly demanding a net salary of 1.5 million euros per season, a figure currently beyond the reach of Israeli clubs. Both Anderlecht, which reportedly made two offers, and Maccabi Haifa have previously expressed interest in the player.

Khotsuliak himself has indicated a willingness to play in Israel, but his salary demands remain high, though he is open to having a portion of his desired salary paid as a signing bonus. Last season, he scored eight goals and provided six assists in 26 appearances in the Ukrainian Premier League. He is a right-sided winger who can play any attacking position. He has also played for Dnipro-1, Karpaty Lviv, and Desna Chernihiv. Khotsuliak has earned 16 caps for the Ukrainian national team, scoring 6 goals, and his market value was estimated at around 3 million euros. Throughout his career, he has scored 56 goals and registered 36 assists in 280 league matches in Ukraine. He has also represented Ukraine at various youth levels.