Wrexham are closing in on the signing of goalkeeper Patterson from Premier League side Sunderland, as Phil Parkinson continues to strengthen his squad ahead of a demanding Championship campaign.
Patterson came through Sunderland's academy and made his senior debut for the Black Cats during a 2-1 EFL Trophy defeat to Fleetwood Town in the 2020-21 season. He went on to make his league debut the following year and spent the first half of the 2021-22 season on loan at Notts County before returning to help Sunderland secure promotion to the Championship through the League One play-offs.
The goalkeeper became a regular fixture for Sunderland in the Championship last season, making 45 appearances as the club sealed a return to the Premier League by defeating Sheffield United in the play-off final at Wembley. Despite that involvement, Patterson found opportunities limited once Sunderland reached the top flight, playing just once in the first half of the following season after being overtaken by Robin Roefs in the goalkeeping pecking order.
As a result, Patterson was sent out on loan to Millwall for the second half of the campaign, where he featured 16 times across all competitions for the Lions. In total, he has made 169 competitive appearances for Sunderland since coming through the ranks at the Stadium of Light.
The 24-year-old was recently involved in a pre-season friendly between the two clubs, appearing as a substitute for Sunderland in their 1-0 win over Wrexham at Philadelphia's Subaru Park on 2 August, a match played as part of Wrexham's preparations for the new season.
Should the move go through, Patterson would become the third summer addition for Wrexham, following the arrivals of full-back Danny Imray and midfielder Ben Whiteman. Parkinson's side are preparing for life in the Championship after their remarkable rise through the divisions, and the manager has made clear that further reinforcements are needed before the season gets fully underway.
Speaking ahead of Wrexham's 1-0 defeat to Middlesbrough in the first round of the Carabao Cup, Parkinson acknowledged that his squad still requires work despite the additions already made this summer.
"We feel we're not where we need to be yet and we know that," he said. "We're working, as ever, to make sure that the squad is as strong as it needs to be in what is going to be an incredibly competitive division."
The former Bolton and Bradford City boss stressed the importance of building depth and quality across the squad as Wrexham prepare to compete in a significantly tougher league than in previous campaigns.
"We're under no illusions about that," Parkinson added. "We've got to make this squad so strong and we are working tirelessly to bring those extra players in to give everybody a boost."
Wrexham's rapid rise through English football under the ownership of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney has captured widespread attention, and the club now find themselves preparing for Championship football following back-to-back promotions. Bringing in an experienced goalkeeper with Championship and Premier League squad experience, such as Patterson, would represent another step in Parkinson's efforts to ensure the squad is equipped for the challenges ahead.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.