Sevilla are working on a deal to loan the Scotland international though David Moyes would need to be content with his squad to sanction departures
Nathan Patterson in action during the pre-season friendly match between Blackburn Rovers and Everton at Ewood Park. Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images
Nathan Patterson in action during the pre-season friendly match between Blackburn Rovers and Everton at Ewood Park. Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images
Sevilla are exploring a loan move for Nathan Patterson as Everton enter a busy final week of the transfer window.
The right back is closing on a return to fitness after the start of his campaign was interrupted by concerns over a potential hernia issue. He had started on the right of the defence for the opening games of pre-season before his latest fitness setback.
Everton are understood to be open to allowing some players to depart on loan but only if David Moyes is comfortable with the size of the squad. The ambition is for more signings to follow over the coming days - beyond the expected arrival of Tyler Dibling.
Dibling was due to undergo a medical on Monday after Southampton granted him permission to travel to Merseyside. That followed a breakthrough in negotiations at the end of last week. Everton had three bids rejected for the teenage attacking midfield and signalled an intention to walk away from talks after the final offer, a package worth around £37.5m, was turned down earlier this month.
There was an openness to resuming discussions should the Saints show willingness to compromise on their value and that approach was vindicated when the Championship club initiated new talks. As reported on Sunday, when David Moyes provided a positive update on the move after the win over Brighton, Everton are now working on a package worth around £40m for the England youth international.
Further business is desired by the Everton hierarchy, with right back and central midfield considered key areas, though the injuries to Vitalii Mykolenko and Jarrad Branthwaite have left Moyes open to further strengthening his defence - particularly if he was to end up in a situation whereby centre back Jake O’Brien continued to be relied upon at right back.
Moyes has maintained a desire for quality throughout the summer but is of the opinion that, in some areas, no new signing would be worse than moving to a target further down his wishlist.
New faces would allow Everton to make decisions over some players whose development may be better served away from Merseyside this season.
As reported by Sky Sports, after earlier interest from Italy, France and Germany Patterson, whose Blues career has been plagued by injury, is the subject of talks over a possible move to Spain.
Youssef Chermiti could also depart as he searches for valuable first team minutes that have proved elusive at Everton to date. Tim Iroegbunam and Harrison Armstrong have been tracked all summer, with Sheffield United having closely monitored the availability of Iroegbunam and Championship clubs expressing an interest in Armstrong following his impressive stint at Derby County.
Iroegbunam has proved of value to Moyes in the opening games of the season, however, starting both Premier League matches, while a decision is still yet to be made on teenage starlet Armstrong, who came on for the final minutes of Sunday’s historic win at Hill Dickinson Stadium.