Everton are reportedly on the verge of completing the signing of 16-year-old midfielder Jack Patterson from Northern Ireland club Crusaders.
According to the Liverpool Echo, Everton are closing in on the capture of 16-year-old Northern Irish prospect Jack Patterson from Crusaders FC in the upcoming summer transfer window.
A product of the Crusaders’ youth academy, Patterson has been making quite the strides in his homeland despite his young age. The teenage midfield prodigy made his senior debut for the club at the age of 15 and has since made four first-team appearances so far. He has also represented the Northern Ireland national team at youth levels.
Patterson’s potential and promise had attracted Everton’s interest towards the end of the last year. The Toffees had been working on a deal for the midfield prospect back in January itself when Rafael Benitez was still the manager, while they did not have a sporting director in place at the club.
Since then, Everton have hired Frank Lampard to replace Benitez as the first-team manager, while Kevin Thelwell has been named the director. Despite the change in management, the Merseyside giants have continued their pursuit of Patterson and are now believed to be close to completing his capture at the end of the season.
Everton are set to sign Crusaders’ Jack Patterson in the 2022/23 summer transfer window. (Source: Liverpool Echo) pic.twitter.com/bZ1zbrGqvR
— Everton Blue Army (@EvertonBlueArmy) April 27, 2022
With the Brexit rules coming into force, Premier League clubs, including Everton, are switching their attention towards recruiting the finest young talent in British football as teams are prohibited from signing Under-18 players from EU countries.
It has seen Everton already make some significant roads in the British youth market. The Toffees signed 16-year-old goalkeeper Dylan Graham from Northern Irish side Ballymena United last summer. It was followed by the signing of Francis Okoronkwo from League One side Sunderland in September 2021.
Lampard might have found it hard to get things in order at the club, but he has shown that he will not hesitate to put his faith in youngsters. He handed chances to youth stars with potential at Chelsea and is continuing to do so at Everton. Anthony Gordon has grown into a key player at the club, while 18-year-old Isaac Price has been part of the matchday squads on occasions this term.
So, as things stand, Patterson, in all likelihood, will be an Everton player come the summer transfer window. The Toffees are also considering a swoop for 14-year-old Sunderland prospect Chris Rigg, while there are also links to Nottingham Forest prodigy Brennan Johnson, who would be likely be drafted straight into the senior team if signed.
