The Scotland international has found game time hard to come by under David Moyes and is entering the final year of his contract at Goodison Park. Injuries have also disrupted his progress, with Patterson missing 10 months after a setback in April 2024.
Since returning, opportunities have remained limited. He has made just seven Premier League appearances this season, including three starts, totalling 266 minutes. Across the past two campaigns, he has featured only 17 times in the league, often from the bench.
Dickov believes the 24-year-old now needs consistent football to get his career back on track and has pointed to a potential move back to Ibrox as an ideal solution.
“Nathan Patterson is at the age where you have to be playing football,” he told the Daily Record. “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.”
Patterson joined Everton from Rangers in a deal worth around £11million in January 2022 and was a more regular feature during his first two full seasons on Merseyside. However, his future now appears uncertain as the summer transfer window approaches.