Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard blasts Everton’s £5m bid for Rangers youngster as coming “out of a joke book”

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has blasted Everton’s bid for Rangers right-back Nathan Patterson as something that has “come out of a joke book”.

The Goodison Park outfit have reportedly tabled £5 million for the 19-year-old.

What’s been said

Speaking after Rangers’ 4-2 victory at Ross County on Sunday, Gerrard said that if Everton were serious about prising Patterson to Merseyside they need to “get real” about the Scotland international’s valuation.

The Ibrox manager admitted he’d only heard about the offer following the full-time whistle and hadn’t been notified of anything from the Rangers hierarchy about Everton making an approach for Patterson.

Gerrard, who is a hero at Anfield having made 504 appearances and captained the Reds to Champions League glory in 2005, told the Glasgow Times: “You carry on with the jokes, £5 million, wow.

“Look, I’ve only just been told about this. It hasn’t been brought to my attention by anyone above me at the club.

“I’ll ask the question when I go back on the bus but if you’re going to talk about Nathan Patterson you need to get real.

“£5 million is, I don’t know, that’s definitely come out of a joke book surely.

“I don’t make the decisions in terms of when the right numbers are hit. All the players have got a price, we’ve said this so many times.

”We want to keep all our best players, especially our homegrown and local ones.

“There’s a big future here for him. He’s got to be patient and he’ll get game time and minutes.

“We’re delighted with Nathan, he’s not someone we’re looking to move on but every single person has got a number. But let me tell you now £5 million is so far away it’s unreal.”

Background

Everton are in the market for an additional right-back to provide cover and competition for Seamus Coleman.

The Toffees were chasing PSV Eindhoven’s Denzel Dumfries earlier this summer.

However, the Netherlands international instead opted for a move to Serie A champions Inter Milan.

Rafa Benitez has now reportedly turned his attention to Patterson, who was left on the bench for Rangers’ defeat of Ross County.

The teenager has played 17 times for the Scottish Premiership champions, scoring two goals.

He’s also been capped twice for Scotland and was part of their Euro 2020 squad.

Everton have until transfer deadline day on Tuesday, 31 August to complete any remaining deals.