The Rangers may be tempted to sell the star for less than previously thought, according to reports.
Gers are back in the Scottish title race with crucial weeks to go
Hearts may sit three points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership, but Rangers are still in the title race.
There are seven games left, and Danny Rohl’s team is breathing down the necks of the Jambos.
The next few weeks will define a season that already has real quality running right away.
He won the title, and Rangers ended their five-year wait from 2021, when Steven Gerrard was in charge. Get access to the Champions League and the most comprehensive financial rewards.
Both remain strong in play.
At the heart of that title stands a man who has been one of the revelations of the Scottish football season.
Emmanuel Fernandez arrived from Peterborough United last summer for around £3.5m – a full-back released from League One who many would have expected would need time to settle into his new place.
A player determined to shut down the Rangers next season, Danny Rohl is a big fan
The Gers boss praised him publicly.
What he brought to the position was not unusual.
The 24-year-old Nigerian, who stands at 6ft 4in, has become a mainstay in Rohl’s defence.
He scored five goals in 21 Premiership games – a remarkable return for a defender – and kept 10 clean sheets in all competitions, earning his first Nigeria international call-up in the process.
His aerial dominance, composure in possession and threatening set-pieces have attracted scouts from across Britain and Europe.
Arsenal, Chelsea, West Ham and Everton are all very interested.
Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich are also being linked. The extent of that interest is a testament to how well Fernandez has lived up to expectations.
TEAMtalk even reported this week that Rangers have slapped a £35m price tag on the defender – a figure that would smash the club’s record transfer fee, surpassing Calvin Bassey’s £19.6m sale to Ajax in 2022.
Peterborough’s director of football Barry Fry went further, suggesting the fee could rise to £40m given the way Fernandez’s stock has risen.
The Rangers could sell Emmanuel Fernandez for less than what was reported
However, reporter David Friel, speaking on Clyde 1’s Superscoreboard, put the brakes on those projections.
Friel believes the ownership behind the 49ers at Ibrox operates on a clear philosophy of player trading – bring in players, add value, and move them on for profit – and that while the fees are eye-catching, the reality may be more modest.
Therefore, Friel suggests that Rangers could sell Fernandez for a ‘decent’ fee, but for less than the figures being put together.
“You will see crazy numbers doing the rounds for players like Emmanuel Fernandez,” he said.
“I don’t think at all they will get the £35m quoted.
“But I think if they get the guys they just brought in, I think they will continue with them.
“I think that’s what they have to do.”
Friel also pointed out that Rangers’ summer strength will largely depend on where they finish – Champions League qualification represents more money than any player sales.
For the Rangers, Fernandez’s condition is critical.
The ‘monster’ defender is vital to their title challenge at the moment and there is every incentive to keep him focused for the final seven games.
The summer will bring clarity to his future – and even if £35m proves out of reach, a huge return on the £3.5m investment seems certain.
