What Nathan Patterson has said about returning to Rangers as Everton plan sale
Patterson has failed to ever nail down a regular starting spot at Everton since joining from Rangers in 2022.
He spent the 2025-26 campaign as backup to Jake O'Brien, who is a centre-back by trade, and will surely be assessing his future ahead of the summer window.
According to a new report from The Times' Paul Joyce, Everton are willing to listen to offers for Patterson this summer.
He has been linked with a return to Ibrox in recent weeks, and has previously admitted that he would want to head back to his boyhood club at some point in his career.
Seamus Coleman has already left the Hill Dickinson Stadium after 17 years at the club, and Everton have been linked with several right-backs, including Arsenal's Ben White.
Rangers fans will be keen to know whether Patterson could realistically return to the club, and a move certainly seems possible if Danny Rohl gives the green light.
What has Nathan Patterson said about returning to Rangers?
Patterson struggled with familiar injury issues in the early stages of the season, but mostly continued to watch on after returning to full fitness in December.
The 24-year-old only made eight appearances in all competitions in 2025-26, with David Moyes regularly choosing O’Brien to feature from the off instead of him.
He can put himself into the shop window with some strong performances for Scotland at the World Cup, especially as a move close to home is mooted.
Patterson admitted in 2022 that he would explore a move back to Rangers at some point in his career.
Speaking to the Mail, he said: "Of course I’d love to go back to Rangers later on in my career and finish what I started. It would be great to finish at Ibrox. 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. I was involved in 55 but I’d like to go back and get more titles.
“I went to Seville last summer for the Europa League Final and hoped they could win it but they just fell short. Just seeing Rangers in a European final again was massive, though, and it shows how far the club has come.
“But right now, I’m really happy at Everton and want to continue to progress here and I’m fully focused on doing well at Goodison.”
Which right-backs have Everton been linked to ahead of the summer?
Coleman's exit and Patterson being touted with a move away have seen David Moyes line up a new right-back signing ahead of next term.
O'Brien did well as a stand-in throughout 2025-26 but looks set to move back to centre-back from now on.
Sources have exclusively revealed to Football Insider that Everton are interested in Aaron Wan-Bissaka as he seeks to leave West Ham following their relegation from the Premier League.
The Times' new report has seen Atalanta's Raoul Bellanova linked to the Merseyside club, while Lutsharel Geertruida is also believed to be a target.