Everton set to sign midfielder in deal agreed before Frank Lampard arrival

Everton are expected to complete a move for 16-year-old Northern Ireland youth international Jack Patterson this summer.

A deal for Crusaders midfielder Patterson was first reported in Northern Ireland in January, at which time Everton were without a director of football and former manager Rafa Benitez was still in charge.

But the ECHO has been told by a source at Crusaders the teenager is still set to make the move to Goodison Park despite Frank Lampard and Kevin Thelwell arriving and a strategic review taking place at the club. Patterson has already made four professional appearances after making his senior debut at 15.

Furthermore, Everton are expected to intensify their academy scouting efforts in the United Kingdom following the implementation of Brexit.

A source close to development recruitment at Finch Farm told the ECHO that Everton are one of a number of Premier League clubs targeting the best talent within the UK after Brexit prohibited clubs from signing EU nationals under the age of 18.

Everton have already taken advantage of the Northern Irish market after signing goalkeeper Dylan Graham, 16, from Ballymena United last summer. They also landed Francis Okoronkwo from Sky Bet League one outfit Sunderland in September 2021, with the 17-year-old striker the final signing of the Marcel Brands era before the former director of football departed.

Brands had previously made use of pre-Brexit laws, completing a deal for teenage midfielder Imam Jagne from Swedish club BK Hacken in October 2020.

Elsewhere in the current youth ranks, Sean McAllister arrived from Northern Ireland in 2019 after the club saw off competition from Celtic, while Rhys Hughes and Ryan Astley are Wales under-21 internationals. Liam Higgins