Everton's hopes of landing Nathan Patterson from Rangers look dead in the water because of a Covid track and trace botch up.
Record Sport understands the youngster has been ordered to self isolate retrospectively after being identified as a close contact from the Ibrox club’s trip to face Ross County two weekends ago.
And he will now have to stay at home until after the transfer window shuts down at midnight on Tuesday - effectively killing off any chance the Goodison club had of tempting Steven Gerrard into sanctioning the sale of his highly rated 19-year-old.
Patterson was stunned to be told he had to sit out Sunday’s OId Firm showdown despite being given the green light by health officials to travel to Armenia for last week’s Europa League play-off against Alashkert.
It was only after the team returned to Glasgow that he was informed he should have been isolating along with a number of team mates, including keepers Allan McGregor and Jon McLaughlin as well as skipper James Tavernier.
Patterson has since tested negative for the virus but will have to remain under lock and key until Wednesday before joining up with Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad later this week, after they return from a World Cup qualifier against Denmark.
It’s understood that, over the weekend, Everton had a second bid worth around £8m booted out by Rangers.
But even if a third offer is received from Merseyside at the 11th hour Patterson will be unable to travel south to sign on the dotted line before the deadline expires.
