Everton right-back Nathan Patterson has been backed to make a return transfer to Rangers after leaving Ibrox in 2022
Everton’s Nathan Patterson has been backed to make a move back to Rangers.
Patterson was signed by Rafael Benitez on January 4, 2022 – just 12 days before the former Kop Idol was sacked as Blues boss – from the Ibrox outfit for £11million with the intention of becoming Seamus Coleman’s long-term successor at right-back.
However, he has made just 56 Premier League appearances in almost four-and-a-half years at Everton and is now deemed surplus to requirements.
Sean Dyche (with Ben Godfrey) and now David Moyes (with Jake O’Brien) have regularly chosen to field natural centre-backs out of position in the right-back berth ahead of Patterson and the ECHO understands that the 24-year-old – who this summer will have 12 months left on his current contract – came close to joining Serie A side Genoa on transfer deadline day of the latest winter window.
Moyes himself revealed on January 30 – in his pre-match press conference to preview the trip to Brighton & Hove Albion the next day – that Everton had “been actively looking for a right-back for over a year.”
With Patterson’s fellow Glaswegian looking for other options in his position and having only started him three times in the Premier League this term, former Scotland international Paul Dickov reckons the time is right for the player to return to his home city.
Speaking to the Daily Record via LiveFootballTickets, the 53-year-old, who played Premier League football with Arsenal, Manchester City, Leicester City and Blackburn Rovers said: “Nathan Patterson is at the age where you have to be playing football.
“He’s had some unfortunate injuries, but now that he’s back, he needs game time. There’s no doubting his ability, he’s a top young defender, and a move back to Rangers would be good for him.
“If he’s available, I’m sure there’ll be plenty of clubs interested in him. But I think a move back to Rangers, where he’s comfortable and in surroundings he knows, could reignite his career.”
With long-serving Rangers right-back and captain James Tavernier, 34, leaving the club this summer after 11 years’ service, the time could be ripe for Patterson, who is looking to be part of Scotland’s World Cup squad, if Hill Dickinson Stadium chiefs can agree a suitable fee.