Everton are reportedly closing in on the capture of Rangers whizkid Nathan Patterson, who may soon complete his medical at Goodison Park.
According to Football Insider, Everton have moved one step closer towards the capture of Nathan Patterson. The Premier League outfit have agreed to a deal worth £12 million that could potentially rise to £16 million, including add-ons. The player is soon expected to agree personal terms with the club before completing his medical at Goodison Park within the next 24 hours.
Patterson is set to become Everton’s second signing in the January transfer window after Vitaliy Mykolenko. His addition to the club may solve Rafael Benitez’s woes at right-back as the Spaniard had struggled with the club’s lack of depth in that particular position, often appearing overly reliant on the services of the ageing Seamus Coleman.
One would expect Patterson to serve as a cover for the Irishman before taking on the mantle of becoming the club’s first-choice right-back. He has already made some waves in Scottish football, having featured in 27 competitive appearances for Rangers.
While regular minutes have been hard to come by due to the presence of captain James Tavernier, the 20-year-old has made a solid impression whenever he has represented the first team. It had led to widespread interest from other Premier League clubs, including Aston Villa, currently managed by Steven Gerrard, who had played a key role behind the youngster’s breakthrough in professional football.
But it is Everton who have prevailed in the race to sign Patterson, who will be hoping to follow the footsteps of excellent Scottish full-backs in the Premier League like Kieran Tierney and Andrew Robertson.
One would also expect the Toffees themselves to now shift their focus on fixing other problems in their squad, like offloading out-of-favour left-back Lucas Digne. The Frenchman has fallen out with coach Benitez, thus leading to speculation regarding his long-term future at the club. He has already been linked with a move to Chelsea and Newcastle United in January, while Juventus are involved in the equation as well.
However, Everton are already prepared for life without the former Barcelona star, as they have secured the services of Vitaliy Mykolenko. The Ukrainian left-back will replace Digne in Benitez’s squad after becoming the club’s first January signing.
