Rangers made Emmanuel Fernandez out of U-Tuna and West Ham, Arsenal and Chelsea
Rangers made the decision to leave in the summer with West Ham, Arsenal and Chelsea all interested in the key Ibrox star.
Rangers grinded out an important win over St Mirren
The race for the Scottish Premiership title has never been tighter.
Hearts sit at the top with 63 points, Celtic are two behind them with 61 points, while Rangers – after Sunday’s hard-fought 1-0 win at St Mirren – moved up to 60, just three points off the top with eight games to go.
What looked like a procession of hearts a month ago has turned into a three-horse race that has struggled for years.
The victory at Paisley was not pleasant at all.
Tuur Rommens settled matters with a 31st-minute goal, but Danny Rohl’s side outworked a stubborn St Mirren outfit and were more than relieved to hear the final whistle after an offside goal was ruled out late on.
Pulling three times in a row on the road became a concern – this was the answer that was needed.
They were encouraged after Kilmarnock’s result against Hearts on Saturday evening, which decided the Edinburgh club’s lead and kept the Ibrox side’s ambitions very much alive.
And while the action on the field is fascinating, the business behind it is just as important.
Worse than Naderi: 4/10 The Rangers star looks like his biggest mistake of January
This defeat of Glasgow Rangers seems to have been the club’s biggest mistake in the January transfer window.
Because one of the central players in Rangers’ title push is attracting serious attention from south of the border – and Ibrox is on its heels.
Rangers make Emmanuel Fernandez decision amid Premier League interest
Emmanuel Fernandez was in the starting line-up at Paisley on Sunday, as he was in the second half of the season.
The 24-year-old arrived at Ibrox from Peterborough United last summer with no interest at all, barely featured under Russell Martin in the opening weeks, then completely turned his fortunes around after Rohl took over.
He is now a full-back for Rangers and is one of the most improved defenders in British football this season.
Six goals in all competitions – mostly from set pieces – tells its own story about the threat he poses at both ends of the pitch.
That development was not seen.
Arsenal and Chelsea both registered an interest earlier in the season, and according to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, West Ham are the latest Premier League club to turn their attention to the defender.
With Nuno Espírito Santo fighting to keep the Hammers in the top flight, Fernandez has been identified as a player with real potential, but Rangers are not listening.
It was previously reported that the Gers were considering cashing in on Fernandez amid interest from West Ham, but have now changed their mind.
Indeed, O’Rourke says the Teddy Bears intend to reject any summer move, regardless of which club comes calling.
Fernandez is under contract until 2029, giving the Rangers all the power they need, and Rohl plans to keep him as a cornerstone of his team going forward.
The key factor behind all this is the Champions League.
Rangers know that finishing top – and therefore securing a Champions League qualification spot – would strengthen their hand significantly in any future negotiations.
For a player of Fernandez’s stature and ambition, the prospect of European football at the highest level is a strong argument for staying put.
Arsenal, Chelsea and West Ham all seem to be taking notice.
For now, however, the answer from Ibrox is a resounding no.
The Rangers are willing to enter into new contract negotiations with Rohl’s “good” favorite in one big situation
The Gers are planning some summer business…
