The Scottish international's frustrating Goodison Park stint could end as Bundesliga interest intensifies. With playing time scarce and contract talks looming, the Toffees face a critical transfer decision.
Everton full-back Nathan Patterson is attracting interest from Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt, who are pursuing a deal to secure his signature.
Patterson played just 240 minutes in the Premier League last season for Everton and has only managed to start 29 Premier League games since he joined the club from Rangers.
The Scottish international was meant to arrive as Everton's long-term right-back to replace Seamus Coleman, but he struggled to hit the heights expected of him.
Patterson has found himself falling down the pecking order at Everton, with David Moyes even opting for the likes of James Garner at right back last season ahead of him.
It certainly feels like it's time for Patterson to move on and go and play regular first-team football in order to get his career back on track.
Patterson is also attracting interest from clubs in La Liga and Serie A, while he was also close to joining Sevilla last summer. With the Scottish right-back having just one year remaining on his contract, Everton have a decision to make on the defender this summer.
The Toffees need to decide whether to cash in and try to get a fee for the defender or allow him to leave on a free transfer next summer. If there is interest from top-level clubs, it makes sense for Everton to try and recoup some of the money they paid for him.
It's been an incredibly difficult time for Patterson at Everton in terms of breaking into the senior squad.
The Glasgow-born defender has rarely been given a run of games in order to prove himself. While you could certainly argue that he should have been sent out on loan early in his Everton career
Patterson was perhaps not ready to replace Coleman when he first arrived, which is no surprise considering he was just 20 years old at the time. Now, at the age of 24, Everton have allowed his career to stagnate when there have been plenty of opportunities to send him out on loan.
Everton's failed pursuit of a new right-back is a key reason why they've clearly felt he's had to stick around, but the Scottish international has been treated unfairly. That's not to say Patterson may not have been able to do more in training in order to prove himself, but the Toffees certainly haven't given him an easy development pathway.