Everton are nearing on the signing of Rangers full-back Nathan Patterson, according to The Times' Paul Joyce. 

The lowdown

The Toffees may be set to get their man at the third attempt after seeing two bids for him rejected in the summer.

The 20-year-old is already establishing himself as a starter for Scotland but he has been restricted to just two Scottish Premiership starts this season behind Rangers captain James Tavernier.

Patterson, who is primarily a right-back but can also play as a right midfielder or on the left, has been described as a 'brilliant attacking talent' by former Leeds forward Noel Whelan.

The latest

Joyce tweeted on Sunday evening that 'Everton [are] closing in' on a deal to sign Patterson.

The young defender could become the Toffees' second arrival of the January transfer window after the signing of full-back Vitaliy Mykolenko from Dynamo Kyiv.

The verdict

In Patterson, Everton look to have landed a long-term successor to Seamus Coleman at right-back, with the skipper turning 34 this year. Indeed, The Athletic's Mark Carey says that the youngster boasts a similar profile to the Irishman.

Patterson is clearly a great prospect but Tavernier's level of performance and output makes him so difficult to dislodge at Ibrox, and the Toffees appear to have smartly capitalised on that predicament.

Provided that this deal can be completed, Benitez can then turn his attention to adding a midfielder and a forward to his ranks.

In other news, many Everton fans slammed this man's performance against Brighton