Everton offer cash plus Nathan Patterson to seal first January transfer for David Moyes
David Moyes needs to upgrade his options at right-back.
Jake O’Brien has been playing in the makeshift position for the majority of the season, while Nathan Patterson continues to remain on the periphery of Moyes‘ plans.
Patterson has struggled with injuries throughout his Everton career, and he has only made four appearances in all competitions this campaign.
Having joined the Toffees in January 2022, the 24-year-old has failed to deliver on the immense potential that he had, and he now looks set to leave.
Everton are linked with Bologna’s Emil Holm, and Patterson could be the key to any January deal.
Everton offer Nathan Patterson as part of deal for Emil Holm
Holm has registered impressive attacking numbers in the first half of the season, with the Swedish international providing four assists in his nine Serie A appearances.
On Monday, Italian media outlet Corriere Della Sera reported that Everton made a move for Emil Holm in recent hours, offering money and Patterson in exchange.
However, Bologna are not inclined to sell him, especially given the fact that they are struggling to cope with injuries to their defenders.
After coming through IFK Goteborg’s academy in Sweden, Holm moved to Italian side Spezia, where, after a couple of loan spells, Bologna snapped him up in July 2024.
The 25-year-old has played 46 times for Bologna since his arrival 18 months ago, helping them win the Coppa Italia in May 2025, which ended their 51-year trophy drought.
Moyes clearly places no faith in Patterson, and the Scottish full-back could play alongside international teammate Lewis Ferguson if the deal goes through.
Nathan Patterson’s injuries let him down at Everton
Everton have had a quiet transfer window so far, although the signing of Holm would be a statement of ambition from The Friedkin Group.
Patterson has not played more than 26 games in a single season of his career, which speaks volumes as to how Everton have subsequently neglected that position for so many years.
He has suffered seven different injuries in less than four seasons, with only one of them being minor.
| 25/26 | Muscle injury | 51 days | 8 |
| 25/26 | Muscle injury | 42 days | 4 |
| 24/25 | Hamstring injury | 26 days | 5 |
| 23/24 | Thigh problems | 160 days | 21 |
| 22/23 | Knee injury | 1 days | 1 |
| 22/23 | Ankle injury | 36 days | 7 |
| 21/22 | Ankle surgery | 63 days | 11 |
In Holm, the Toffees have a right-back who is dependable and athletic going forward, and he could strike up a brilliant partnership with Iliman Ndiaye.
O’Brien will now serve well as a back-up, and Everton will no longer be solely reliant on Vitalii Mykolenko for any attacking input from the full-back positions.
Moyes will certainly be anxious to get this move over the line ahead of a crucial month of Premier League football.