Rangers could be set to get Nathan Patterson back for free after Everton’s inability to pay his fee emerged as a result of the sanctions being forced upon the Goodison club.

While Ibrox Noise posited previously that we indeed could lose the rest of the fee for Patterson as a result of the action on Everton, it has been reported that instead of losing the fee, Rangers could regain the player.

Older Rangers fans will remember what happened with Trevor Steven in the 90s, whereby the ex-England international switched to Marseille in 1991 for a mega fee of around £6M, but after financial trouble in France, he was sold back for a cut-price deal of around £2M barely a year later.

Could that be similar to Patterson?

It hasn’t really worked out for the Scotland international at Everton. Not a failure, but he hasn’t held his place down there, managing just 5 starts this season at the beginning before losing his place yet again to Ashley Young who has become the first choice once more. Indeed, Ben Godfrey, Seamus Coleman and Young have always been ahead of Patterson, who is just a fringe player for the Premier League side.

And if they get relegated as now looks certain as a result of the points deduction, and end up in admin as is also looking realistic, they will certainly waive the right to hold onto Patterson given they cannot afford the rest of the payments.

And that could open the door for his return to Rangers, which many fans would be delighted to see.

That said, he still won’t play ahead of James Tavernier, but that’s another story entirely…