Rangers are facing a serious fight to hold onto breakout star Emmanuel Fernandez this summer following a meteoric debut season in Glasgow that has caught the attention of some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
When the Light Blues quietly concluded a £3.5million deal to sign Fernandez from EFL League One club Peterborough last summer, few outside of the lower leagues knew what to expect.
The towering 24-year-old was a relatively unknown figure on the European stage, having navigated the gritty realities of non-league football with loans at clubs like Sheppey United and Margate earlier in his career.
Yet, over the course of just 12 frantic months, Fernandez has undergone a meteoric rise at the heart of the Rangers backline, racking up 27 league appearances and chipping in with five crucial goals.
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Rennes target Ibrox breakout star
That sudden rise has inevitably reverberated across Europe.
According to French outlet Foot Sur 7, Ligue 1 heavyweights Rennes have officially placed Fernandez on a targeted three-man defensive shortlist as they prepare for a high-intensity UEFA Europa League campaign.
Rennes are actively rebuilding their defensive core after finishing sixth in France, heavily motivated by a massive vacancy in their squad.
Highly-rated defensive prodigy Jeremy Jacquet is joining Liverpool this summer for a deal worth up to £60m, following an agreement struck between the clubs back in January.
Fernandez’s aggressive, front-foot style would be viewed as an ideal profile to absorb that loss, while Toulouse’s Charlie Cresswell and Wolves’ Yerson Mosquera are also listed alongside him.
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Luring the Nigeria international away from Ibrox will be a steep financial task for the French side.
Because Peterborough smartly structured a significant sell-on percentage clause into the original £3.5m transfer last summer, Rangers are guaranteed to hold for top dollar before even considering a sale.
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Furthermore, with top European clubs thought to be keeping tabs on Fernandez, the Andrew Cavenagh-led club hold immense leverage.
Fortunately for manager Derek McInnes, the player himself has already expressed absolute contentment with his current environment.
With Rangers already bracing for a major player exit in the shape of Nicolas Raskin, it would be a surprise if they sanctioned a sale for the centre-back this summer.
