Glasgow Rangers know that they need to go into the market to sign a new right-back when the summer transfer window officially opens for business later this month.

James Tavernier will officially leave Ibrox when his contract expires at the end of June, ending a ten-season stay with the Scottish Premiership giants.

Danny Rohl and the recruitment team are now tasked with identifying and signing a right-back who can come in and replace the Gers captain for the 2026/27 campaign and beyond.

It has been reported this week that the Scottish side want to sign Westerlo right-back Bryan Reynolds to replace the skipper, five months after the club signed Tuur Rommens from the Belgian side for £3m.

The USA international produced two goals and three assists in 39 appearances in the Pro League this season, whilst he created five 'big chances' for his teammates.

Rangers considering deal to sign Premier League defender

Rangers have already had a bid of £2.1m turned down for the 24-year-old full-back, though, as Westerlo are said to be holding out for a fee in the region of £4.3m.

Now, the Ibrox outfit are reportedly looking at an alternative option who would be an even better signing for Rohl's squad for next season in the right-back position.

According to TEAMtalk, Glasgow Rangers are eyeing up a potential swoop for Everton defender Nathan Patterson in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Light Blues are considering the Scotland international as an alternative to Reynolds, if they are unable to reach an agreement with Westerlo for his services.

It adds that Everton are prepared to cash in on the former Gers right-back in the summer, as long as they are able to land one of their targets, as they pursue multiple targets in his position.

Rangers are now keeping tabs on his situation and could make a move for him later in the window, although it remains to be seen how much money the Toffees will demand for the defender.

Why Rangers should sign Nathan Patterson instead of Bryan Reynolds

After selling him to Everton for £11.5m in January 2022, Rangers should go through with a deal to bring him back to Ibrox instead of swooping for Reynolds from Westerlo.

Whilst the USA international has the potential to be a strong addition to the squad, there is no guarantee that he adapts to Scottish football in the same way that Rommens did after his move in January.

Patterson, though, came through the ranks at Ibrox and already has experience in the Premiership, which could allow him to hit the ground running as the dream replacement for Tavernier at right-back.

Before his move to the Premier League at the start of 2022, the full-back played six times in the Premiership in the first half of the 2021/22 campaign and showed incredible promise as an attacking force, which convinced the Toffees to sign him.

For context as to how impressive those statistics are, Reynolds averaged 0.11 xA, 0.08 assists, and 0.13 'big chances' created per 90 in the Pro League for Westerlo this season.

The 24-year-old star, hailed as "humble" by Seamus Coleman, played 27 times in the first-team for the Gers, but has struggled for game time since his move down south, playing 67 matches for Everton in the last four years.

Patterson still showed signs of promise in his seven appearances in the Premier League for the Toffees this season, though, as he averaged 11.63 defensive contributions and 3.75 tackles per 90, whilst winning 78% of his aerial battles.

Reynolds, meanwhile, averaged 5.31 defensive contributions and 1.37 tackles per 90, winning 68% of his aerial battles, in the Pro League for Westerlo in the 2025/26 campaign.

The Scotland international, who is at the World Cup this summer, could be an even better right-back option than the American defender, therefore, by offering more offensively and defensively at his best.

He is also a proven Premiership and Rangers performer who knows what it takes to perform at Ibrox, which is another key reason as to why he would be a much better signing for the club than Reynolds.