Ibrox View: Rangers growing star's recent int'l breakthrough could ultimately spell bad news

Emmanuel Fernandez was rewarded for his Rangers form with his maiden caps for Nigeria during the international break.

The centre-back has featured 27 times for Rangers in all competitions since joining from Peterborough United last summer.

Fernandez played 45 minutes for Nigeria in their 2-1 friendly win over Iran on 27 March, before then featuring for the full 90 in the 2-2 draw with Jordan last weekend.

And the 24-year-old certainly caught the eye in those performances, which could see him now become a regular starter at the back for the Super Eagles.

With transfer speculation already surrounding Fernandez, talk of a possible end-of-season exit will only now increase.

Alex Iwobi hails Emmanuel Fernandez impact amid Arsenal links

Rangers are already bracing for a “significant” offer for Fernandez in the summer window.

Indeed, it has even been suggested that English heavyweights Arsenal are keeping a close eye on Fernandez’s situation at Ibrox.

And Alex Iwobi, an established Nigeria international, will certainly do little to calm the growing hype surrounding Fernandez judging by his recent comments.

“I thought Emmanuel Fernandez was excellent in his first two games,” Iwobi told reporters.

While it is obviously great from Rangers’ perspective in the short term that Fernandez is thriving for club and country, it may well come at a cost in the long term.

Those clubs showing an interest in the defender will only grow more interested now that he is a full international for an African heavyweight in Nigeria.

Peterborough fans laughing no more at Fernandez fee

Many eyebrows were raised when Rangers spent around £3million to sign Fernandez from English League One club Peterborough.

That led to plenty of Posh fans pretty much laughing at the Gers for overspending, in their view, on the defender.

However, Fernandez has proved his worth already and would be worth arguably around four times that amount now should he move on.

Rangers fans will obviously hope that does not happen anytime soon, but the realistic truth is that any player could be poached.

For Fernandez, the only way is up in terms of his career trajectory. Let’s just hope that sees him stick around at Ibrox for a couple more seasons yet.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.