Atletico Madrid want to sign Rangers full-back Nathan Patterson
Atletico Madrid want to sign 20-year-old Rangers full-back Nathan Patterson, according to online Spanish news outlet Fichajes.
It is claimed that the 2020/21 La Liga champions will try to sign a full-back in January, and Patterson has emerged as a potential option.
The Scotland international’s “delivery, speed and power” would apparently be a “real luxury” for Diego Simeone’s side.
Tipped for the top
Patterson looks to have attracted interest from all over Europe as top clubs eye a move for the Rangers right-back.
The only issue with Fichajes’ report, however, is that they repeatedly refer to Patterson as a left-back.
Simeone is said to be looking for someone to compete with Brazilian Renan Lodi and RB Leipzig’s Marcel Hastenberg is another transfer option.
Quite how Patterson fits into that remains to be seen.
Perhaps ‘El Cholo’ has grand designs on shaping Patterson into an inverted left-back, but the likelier option is that Fichajes have got their wires crossed here.
However, it appears likely that Atletico are still interested in signing Patterson, but to play at right-back or right wing-back.
He has prospered in the latter position for Scotland and Simeone has used a similar formation for his Atleti side.
Their current options down that side are Kieran Tripper and Sime Vrsaljko, both of whom will be over the age of 30 before the end of the season.
Vrsaljko is also out of favour, making just four La Liga appearances this season, so identifying Patterson as a potential alternative makes a lot of sense.
Rangers resolve could be severely tested if Atleti, or indeed any other top team, make an offer for Patterson.
There’s only so long he will be happy to stick around as James Tavernier’s deputy, and that will be one of the most important decisions the new Rangers manager has to make.
In other Rangers news, Ibrox officials jetted into a European city for talks with this manager on Tuesday, and demands were made.