---
title: "Glasgow Rangers: Beale says Tavernier’s position could be threatened by Patterson"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/glasgow-rangers-beale-praises-patterson/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "jonathan radcliffe"
section: "Features"
published: "2020-08-26T12:20:55Z"
modified: "2020-08-26T12:20:55Z"
---

# Glasgow Rangers: Beale says Tavernier’s position could be threatened by Patterson

**Glasgow Rangers coach Michael Beale has compared Nathan Patterson to Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, and has said that James Tavernier’s position could be under threat.**

Patterson made his [Premiership debut](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nathan-patterson/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/424015) for the Gers against Kilmarnock at the weekend as the Ibrox outfit won 2-0. He is highly-rated by those at Ibrox, and he could well be the next youngster in line to feature on a regular basis after the likes of [Greg Docherty](https://www.rangers.co.uk/Article/greg-docherty-joins-hull-city/1r8M55eIDeSXM31RMkDYSa) and [Ross McCrorie](https://www.rangers.co.uk/article/ross-mccrorie-joins-aberdeen/L7bNyTylheoRVeGu9deLr) were sold earlier in this transfer window.

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Beale is clearly a big fan of the 18-year-old, and he [said](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/5970729/beale-rangers-patterson-tavernier/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1598388921):

*“When he first came over he looked like a young boy and had a lot of work to do but now every day he’s looking fitting, stronger, more focused and looking every day a little bit more like a man. We’re quite excited with him and Calvin \[Bassey\]. We played a behind-closed-doors game last week and they both scored which is fantastic for them.”*

*“Nathan’s come in and I think it’s just the impact to train every single day. Tavernier needs to look over his shoulder a little bit.*

*“I’ve lived this scenario before with Trent Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool; a young right-back who had the same sort of energy, same sort of application to his work, so that’s a nice pat on the back for Nathan. But a word of caution, we’ve got it all to do still.”*

Tavernier, of course, is the club captain – he will not be easy to displace at all. However, he is [not the most popular figure](https://www.footballfancast.com/scottish-premier/rangers/james-tavernier-twitter-comments-reaction) amongst the fans, and the [£4.5m-valued](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-tavernier/marktwertverlauf/spieler/62094) 28-year-old’s (as per Transfermarkt) [defensive ability](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/5521194/rangers-tavernier-cant-defend-toffee-barton/#:~:text=LATE%20TACKLE-,Rangers%20captain%20Tavernier%20'can't%20defend%20for%20toffee'%2C,says%20ex%2Dteam%2Dmate%20Barton&text=JOEY%20Barton%20reckons%20the%20reason,'t%20defend%20for%20toffee%22.) has been questioned by some pundits.

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Alexander-Arnold, meanwhile, is arguably the best right-back on the planet right now. He is currently valued at [£99m](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/trent-alexander-arnold/marktwertverlauf/spieler/314353) by Transfermarkt, and has managed a huge [31](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/trent-alexander-arnold/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/314353) assists in all competitions over the last two campaigns – if Patterson can even manage half of what he has achieved so far, he will be doing well for himself.

***Let us know what you think below!***