West Ham target Rangers' Super Eagles defender Fernandez in Championship

West Ham United have moved to sign Rangers defender Emmanuel Fernandez as they strengthen their squad for an immediate return to the Premier League. The Championship club are prepared to meet a valuation of about £21 million for the 25-year-old Nigeria international.

Fernandez has attracted interest from Italian club Atalanta and German side Bayer Leverkusen, but West Ham are currently viewed as the leading contenders. Any agreement at the reported price would make him Rangers’ record sale, overtaking the £19.3 million received from Fulham for fellow Nigerian defender Calvin Bassey in 2023.

West Ham were relegated from the Premier League after finishing in the bottom three last season. Their recruitment plans have focused heavily on defence, particularly after they failed to turn Axel Disasi’s loan spell into a permanent move. Crystal Palace are now close to securing the French centre-back on a permanent basis, leaving West Ham to consider other options.

Fernandez’s position at Rangers has been uncertain throughout the summer, although he has remained with the squad and started the new campaign. He has played six matches in all competitions so far, but his early-season displays have not matched the level he reached last term and have attracted criticism.

The defender enjoyed a major rise in reputation during his first season at Ibrox after arriving from English lower-league club Peterborough. He made 33 appearances, scored six goals and was named Rangers’ Men’s Player of the Season. He was also the club’s only representative in the PFA Team of the Season after being nominated for the PFA player of the year award.

Rangers are seeking to end Celtic’s dominance of Scottish football, and Fernandez remains part of that campaign for now. His composure in possession and threat from set pieces continue to appeal to interested clubs, while West Ham’s need for defensive reinforcements could give them an advantage as the transfer window approaches its conclusion.