- Arsenal reportedly in the ‘race’ for Manny Fernandez’s services
- Rangers are claimed to demand £25m for the Nigerian
- Fernandez has scored five goals and started 20 matches this season
Rangers defender Manny Fernandez has emerged as a leading target for Premier League club Arsenal, TeamTalk have claimed.
The source also names Chelsea, West Ham United and Everton as potential suitors down south who are also vying for his signature.
After struggling during the tenure of Russell Martin, Fernandez has been a revelation under Danny Rohl and has turned into a key player under the German.
Fernandez is only months into the four-year deal he signed when he arrived at Ibrox from Peterborough United last summer.
Manny Fernandez rise from serial struggler to highly regarded defender
At the beginning of his Rangers career, the Nigerian was struggling in the pressure cooker that is Glasgow, with only one start in his first 11 matches.
However, in the space of five months, the story could not be more different with Rangers keeping nine clean sheets in the 22 games when the defender has featured.
Fernandez has also scored the most goals out of any centre-back in the Scottish Premiership this season so far.
He also ranks high for aerial duels, having won 72% and is in third place for the amount of times he has won possession on the pitch.
His attacking threat as well as his recent selection in PFA Scotland’s Premiership Team of the Year, means it would be strange if the 24-year-old was not catching the eye of other clubs.
The fact that is the case and speculation is rife can only be a credit to the Nigerian’s recent exploits, for club and country.
The factors that brings the credibility of the source into question
However, doubt remains on the credibility of the report, which only increases speculation over the Nigerian international’s future at Ibrox.
The fee that Rangers will ‘demand’ to allow the 24-year-old to depart is given as £25m, while in the same breath, it’s said to be up to £35m.
It also names a total of nine clubs that are on Fernandez’s radar, such as Ajax, Club Brugge, Bayern Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund.
Read Rangers Analysis
Manny Fernandez’s focus will be on performing to the best of his ability for the final five matches of the season as he bids to help Rangers secure a historic 56th Premiership title.
Therefore, until more credible information emerges on an imminent offer for the player, any speculation on Fernandez’s future is just that. Speculation.
What we do know is that he continues to impress, with interested clubs monitoring his progress.
Whether anything happens this summer or not, it is clear that Rangers have a prized asset with a bright future ahead.
