Alan Brazil and Ally McCoist react to Nathan Patterson joining Everton
Alan Brazil has questioned the decision of Everton to sign Nathan Patterson on talkSPORT this morning, insisting he will not solve their current woes.
The Scotland international right-back, 20, joined the Toffees from Rangers earlier this week, and has been tipped to become skipper Seamus Coleman’s long-term successor.
However, Brazil reckons the Goodison Park outfit should be concentrating on strengthening other areas instead, claiming Patterson is not the right signing for them at the moment.
The talkSPORT host said this morning (6 January): “Without putting a spoke in, and nothing to do with the kid … a full back?
“Is that what Everton need to get themselves out of trouble in the top half of the table? With the greatest respect?”
Ally McCoist replied: “What they need is to get Calvert Lewin up and running and Richarlison, the two of them, that’s exactly what they need.
“And they do need to defend better.
“But one thing I will say long term is that they will be a good signing for Everton.”
Right move at the wrong time?
The Blues wanted Patterson last summer, but both of their bids were rejected by the Scottish Premiership giants.
They improved their offer this month, and an agreement was finally found between all the parties.
Rafa Benitez clearly wanted the youngster, and while he will not be lifting them into the upper half of the Premier League table, getting the right-back position sorted out is great for the club.
They have always wanted to get in a successor for Coleman, and they have finally gotten one in the Rangers academy graduate.
Vitaliy Mykolenko has also joined the Toffees, with the left-back expected to replace the out-of-favour Lucas Digne, but the club need to bolster other areas as well.
Benitez could do with another centre-back, midfielder and forward right now, but it appears strengthening at full-back this month was always top priority for him.
That has now been done, and they have to move to other key departments if they want to improve their fortunes on the pitch during the second half of 2021-22.
In other Everton news, the Toffees are plotting January loan-to-buy bid for centre-mid hailed by Jack Grealish last month.
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