Rangers ready to reject any summer moves for Emmanuel Fernandez as West Ham eye up Ibrox ace
West Ham United will have no chance of signing Rangers centre-back Emmanuel Fernandez this summer if they are relegated, sources have told Football Insider.
The Hammers are the latest Premier League side to have taken an interest in the 24-year-old, but Gers manager Danny Rohl is planning to keep him for the foreseeable future, and he is under contract until 2029.
Rangers have no intention of letting him leave this summer, and sources have indicated that they feel Champions League qualification would provide them further security in terms of the defender’s future.
West Ham’s transfer plans have seen them identify Fernandez as a player who has strong potential to develop in the future, but a deal looks likely to be out of reach for them this summer.
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VISIT THE WEST HAM TRANSFER HUBRangers development sparks top-level interest in Emmanuel Fernandez
Fernandez arrived at Rangers as something of an unknown when he made the switch to Ibrox from Peterborough United last summer, but his stock has risen dramatically throughout the season.
The Englishman has become a mainstay of Rohl’s team in recent months, after hardly featuring under previous boss Russell Martin in the early stages of the season.
Fernandez has established himself as a major threat from set-pieces, and his prowess in the air has already seen him net six goals for the Gers in all competitions.
His rapid development north of the border has prompted clear interest from the Premier League, with West Ham just the latest to fix their eyes on the Rangers star.
Arsenal and Chelsea were both linked with a move for him earlier in the season, and it is clear that the defender is making a big impression with his performances.
Rangers need to finish inside the top two in the Scottish Premiership to get the added security of a place in Champions League qualifying, but that will not come easily given their current battle with both Hearts and Celtic.
Crysencio Summerville to be first summer exit at West Ham
Former Everton and Aston Villa chief executive Keith Wyness recently told Football Insider that Crysencio Summerville would be straight out of the door if West Ham suffer relegation at the end of the season.
The Dutchman has emerged as a key figure for the East Londoners in recent weeks, as he has netted seven goals in all competitions since the turn of the year to help spearhead their survival fight.
Wyness acknowledged the fact that the Hammers would need to oversee a significant rebuild if they fell into the Championship next season, but he was keen to outline Summerville as someone who would be quickly poached by a Premier League side.
However, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have breathed new life into their fight for survival with their recent upturn in form, and they may be able to avoid that eventuality if they remain in the division.
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