Nathan Patterson: ‘Desperate’ Everton claim issued after Liverpool source’s reveal – pundit
Noel Whelan has insisted Everton paid over the odds to sign Nathan Patterson from Rangers after Liverpool agreed terms for Aberdeen’s Calvin Ramsay.
The former Dons striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, suggested the Toffees were “desperate” to get the 20-year-old on board back in January.
A recruitment source told Football Insider on Friday (17 June) that Liverpool have agreed a fee worth £4million plus £2.5m of add-ons for Ramsay, 18.
This site revealed back in January that Patterson cost Everton an initial £12million, rising to £16million in add-ons and bonuses.
Whelan suggested the Toffees were forced to pay a “premium” due to the right-back being at Rangers.
He insisted Liverpool’s deal for Ramsay is “good business” in comparison.
Comparing the deals for Ramsay and Patterson, Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “I think when you’re looking at a team like Everton, they were desperate. I’m not saying desperate in a way that they had to get somebody in.
“But they set their stall out that he’s the player that they wanted.
“If you are at Rangers, there’s probably a premium because you’re at one of the two biggest clubs. Your bargaining probably isn’t as easy as it is with an Aberdeen.
“Yes, they need the money to come in but they don’t have to lose a player, Rangers. At the same time, when somebody is going to give you £12million for a player that cost you next to nothing, it’s hard to turn that down. You can go and replace that player with two to three players in the squad.
“I think when you’re looking at it, sometimes bigger teams hold the key to players moving from that club. When you come to it, a premium probably is on certain young players at the Old Firm in my opinion.
“When you look at the player now, Ramsay going to Liverpool, that’s just good business by both clubs. It seemed an easy bit of business by both clubs as well. There wasn’t much in it when it came to first offer. I think what they’ve got now is a reasonable offer for both clubs to be satisfied with.”
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