Ibrox legend Barry Ferguson believes Nathan Patterson will not be returning to Rangers any time soon after Everton paid £16 million to take the Scotland international to the Premier League, speaking to Go Radio.
Patterson, to quote the man himself, has ‘unfinished business’ on the blue side of the Glasgow divide.
The academy graduate made only 13 league appearances for his hometown club before moving south of the border nearly 12 months ago, failing to oust James Tavernier from the Rangers XI despite his obvious potential.
“Of course, I’d love to go back to Rangers later on in my career and finish what I started,” Patterson tells the Daily Record. “It’s where I started off my career so it would be nice to play in front of those fans again.”
“There’s a bit of unfinished business for me.”
Rangers sold Scotland international Nathan Patterson to Everton for £16m
With Patterson’s Premier League career only just beginning, however, his focus remains on Everton for the time being. The 21-year-old made huge strides under Frank Lampard at the start of this season too; those marauding runs and his superb one-v-one defending catching the eye despite a niggling injury which threatened to derail his breakthrough campaign.
And, while Ferguson cannot imagine Patterson returning to where it all began in the near future, he is pleased to see an exciting homegrown talent make a name for himself in perhaps the most high-profile league on the planet.
“Well, Rangers won’t be able to afford him now! He’ll cost a fortune,” Ferguson quips. “You’ve got to understand that money talks. And (exciting young players) are going to move down to the English Premier League.
“It’s brilliant to see young players go down there and showcase their talents. Nathan Patterson has done that at Everton.”
Patterson has started eight league games so far this term for The Toffees. His emergence onto the Goodison Park scene has also helped Everton move on at last from the ageing Seamus Coleman.
“He’s been terrific,” former England international Danny Murphy told talkSPORT (28 September, 11.20am). “I’ve been absolutely blown away by him, honestly. (He) looks a real talent. A really good athlete.
“A nice passer of the ball, goes forward at will and doesn’t mind defending one-on-one. He’s got that tenacity and passion that the Everton fans love.
“He is a super talent.”
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