With two full-backs signed in January at a cost of about £29m the time for excuses is over for the former
Liverpool manager
![Benítez gets his man in Patterson but only wins can end Everton toxicity | Andy Hunter](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/6eb2bdce5d2b8c572c57b7844a79c71f7eaa0b6e/199_262_3949_2369/master/3949.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdGctZGVmYXVsdC5wbmc&enable=upscale&s=70a209167f579a4feb0e197610e40a7e)
Everton have taken their January spend to about £29m with the signing of Nathan Patterson from Rangers. With it, they have addressed two key areas for Rafael Benítez and finally delivered the money in his second transfer window. With it, the club will rightly demand their manager finally delivers a return of his own.
Patterson, a 20-year-old
Scotland international, signed a five-and-a-half-year contract on Tuesday after Rangers accepted a deal worth about £11m. The right back was the subject of two failed Everton bids in the summer having been identified as a prime young target to challenge and ultimately succeed the 33-year-old Séamus Coleman, the selfless captain who continues to carry a substantial workload as well as heavy responsibility for a dysfunctional team.