Championship side West Ham United have joined Italian club Atalanta and German giants Bayer Leverkusen in the race to sign Super Eagles defender Emmanuel Fernandez this summer, Soccernet.ng reports.
Fernandez’s future has been uncertain throughout the summer, although no deal has been finalized yet and he has started the new season with Rangers as they look to end Celtic’s dominance of Scottish football.
The 25-year-old has already featured in six games across all competitions this season. However, he has struggled to reproduce the form that made him one of Rangers’ standout players last term and has come under scrutiny for some of his performances.
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Why West Ham United want Fernandez
West Ham United finished in the bottom three of the Premier League last season and were relegated to the Championship.
The Hammers are now aiming to secure an immediate return to the top flight and believe they need to strengthen their squad in several areas. The defence is one of the areas where West Ham are looking to add reinforcements, with their failed pursuit of French defender Axel Disasi increasing the need for a new centre-back.
Disasi spent the second half of last season on loan at Crystal Palace, but West Ham were unable to make his move permanent, with Palace now closing in on a deal to sign him.
That has prompted the Hammers to step up their search for defensive reinforcements, with Fernandez emerging as one of their targets according to new reports.
West Ham are also prepared to meet Rangers’ asking price of between £21 million for the Nigerian defender.
A deal at that level would make Fernandez the most expensive player ever sold by Rangers, surpassing the £19.3 million fee they received for fellow Nigerian international Calvin Bassey when he joined Fulham in 2023.
However, West Ham will face serious competition for the 25-year-old, with Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen also keen to sign the Super Eagles defender this summer.
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All three clubs are interested in reaching an agreement with Rangers, but the final decision could come down to which club is willing to meet the Scottish side’s asking price
Why Fernandez is in high demand
The Nigerian defender was relatively unknown when he joined Rangers from English lower league side Peterborough last summer, but his performances during his first season at Ibrox quickly changed that.
The defender was one of Rangers’ bright sparks last season, making 33 appearances across all competitions and scoring six goals from defence. He overcame a slow start to establish himself as an important player for the club and was eventually named Rangers’ Men’s Player of the Season.
Fernandez was also Rangers’ only representative in the PFA Team of the Season, further showing how impressive his campaign was.
Although he has struggled during the early weeks of the new season, his quality remains clear, especially his composure on the ball and his ability to pose a threat from set-piece situations.
A move away from Ibrox could provide Fernandez with a fresh start and help him rediscover the form that attracted interest from several clubs.
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With the transfer window entering its final few days, Fernandez could still leave Rangers this summer.
For now, West Ham remain the strongest contenders for his signature as they look to strengthen their squad and secure an immediate return to the Premier League.
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