Manchester United have reportedly set their sights on Rangers youngster Nathan Patterson as they eye reinforcements in the right-back position.
According to a report from 90min.com, Manchester United are considering bolstering their right-back options during the January transfer window and have set their sights on Rangers starlet Nathan Patterson.
The 19-year-old is a product of the Gers’ youth academy and has been on the club’s books since 2009. He made his first-team debut for the Scottish champions in January 2020, at the age of 18, and has since gone on to feature 20 times in all competitions, with four of those appearances coming in the ongoing season. He has scored two goals and set up one more during this period.
With club captain James Tavernier the undisputed first-choice in the right-back slot, Patterson’s game-time at Rangers was always going to be limited. But the teenager has made the most of whatever opportunities that have come his way to make an impression, which has led to him even breaking into the Scotland national team and earning three caps already.
Patterson’s progress had earned him admiration from Premier League Everton in recent weeks with the Toffees even having a bid rejected for him late in the summer transfer window. Now, the 19-year-old has registered on the radars of one of the biggest clubs in the world in the form of Manchester United.
The Red Devils, as per the report, are on the lookout for a new right-back ahead of the January transfer window as manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer seeks to add more competition to first-choice Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Diogo Dalot, who returned from a loan spell at AC Milan in the summer, has flattered to deceive when given a chance and does not have a long-term future at Old Trafford.
Youngster Ethan Laird has impressed on loan at Swansea City, but Manchester United believe he is still not ready to make the step up to the first-team and, thus, are seeking another right-sided full-back during the upcoming transfer window. A move for Norwich City’s Max Aarons is being considered, while Patterson is also now the subject of interest from the 20-time English champions.
The report, however, does add that Patterson’s captain, Tavernier, who was considered during the summer by Manchester United, also remains a possibility. It will be interesting to see if the Red Devils do go after either of the Rangers stars come January and whether a deal can be worked out between the two clubs.