Nathan Patterson has managed just 241 Premier League minutes this term, and only 10 appearances for Everton throughout 2025. His only appearance since March came as a cameo off the bench in the 3-3 draw with Manchester City earlier this month. That is why a return to Rangers is being talked about as something more practical than sentimental.

Why the Rangers move is being talked about

Paul Dickov did not overcook the case. Speaking to dailyrecord.co.uk, he said: "Nathan Patterson is at the age where you have to be playing football. He's had some unfortunate injuries, but now that he's back, he needs game time."

Dickov added: "There's no doubting his ability, he's a top young defender, and a move back to Rangers would be good for him."

Patterson said something similar from his side. "I know I'm fully fit and ready to play," he said. "Hopefully I can get some minutes. Obviously you want to play as much as you can but it's not really up to me, I can only do what I can on the pitch."

That is the core of the story. He is fit, he wants minutes, and Everton have not been able to give them to him in any meaningful way.

Tavernier's exit gives Rangers another reason to look

There is also a football reason the link keeps surfacing. James Tavernier is leaving Rangers at the end of the season after 11 years' service, and that opens up a right-back job at Ibrox.

Dickov's view is that Patterson could fit straight back into surroundings he knows. He said a move back to Rangers, where he is comfortable and in surroundings he knows, could reignite his career. That sounds like transfer chat, but it is also a fair reading of where Patterson is right now. Everton have used him sparingly, and Rangers suddenly have a vacancy in his position.

The one thing this does not say is that a move is close. The sources do not go that far, and they should not be stretched. What they do show is a player with 241 league minutes, 7 Premier League appearances in 2025 and a club he knows asking for more football.

If Patterson gets that elsewhere, the most obvious route in the brief is Rangers.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →