Football moves in curious ways. Players end up playing against the teams they supported as boys, former rivals become teammates and, in the case of Steven Gerrard and Rafael Benitez – everything is turned on its head this season.Steven Gerrard and Rafael Benitez in 2009 (Gallo Images)Spanish manager led Liverpool to a glorious Champions League final win in 2005, with then-young Gerrard captaining the Reds. Over 15 years later, Gerrard is the Aston Villa manager and Benitez, quite remarkably, manages Liverpool’s rivals Everton. To make this strange year even stranger, the former Liverpool employees will go head to head in attempts to sign Rangers’ defender Nathan Patterson.Sunday, 18.00: (1.15) Rangers (7.75) St.Mirren (18.0)The 20-year-old defender has already worked with Gerrard while the latter was in charge of the Scottish champions – although the youngster wasn’t considered a first-team regular. His talent and relatively low price make him an ideal recruit for mid-table Premier League teams with an eye for a bargain.Former Aston Villa, Rangers and Tottenham right-back Alan Hutton recently analysed the Gers’ squad regarding players who could follow Gerrard to Villa Park.”Will Gerrard be interested in a few Rangers players? Probably. The likes of Nathan Patterson, he’s very young, still progressing, he can get a lot better. He could develop a lot quicker in England. He’s probably got his eye on a couple. I think Patterson’s got the world at his feet if he sticks in and keeps progressing the way he is. There’s no telling how far he can go.”Everton are set to try to sign Rangers’ Nathan Patterson again during the 2021/22 January transfer window. They made a bid of £5m and a bid of £9m to try to sign him during the 2021/22 summer transfer window, which were both rejected. (Source: The Guardian) pic.twitter.com/vObP2s9Msu— Everton Blue Army (@EvertonBlueArmy) December 21, 2021 Rafa Benitez is forced to scan the market for players who would cost no more than $15 million. The Glasgow club has already rejected Everton’s offers of $7 million and $10 million for Patterson. The experienced Spaniard should up his game quickly or he’ll risk being undone by one of his former students.
