Super Eagles: 3 reasons Rangers must keep Emmanuel Fernandez

Rangers face a major decision over the future of Super Eagles defender Emmanuel Fernandez as they head towards the winter transfer window, Afrik-Foot reports.

The 24-year-old only joined the Scottish giants last summer but has quickly established himself as one of their most important players since arriving at Ibrox.

Fernandez played a key role in Rangers’ title charge last season. Although they eventually fell short of winning the Scottish Premiership, his performances earned him the club’s Men’s Player of the Season award and a place in the PFA Scotland Team of the Season.

His impressive campaign also attracted interest from several clubs, including Arsenal, Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund, although Rangers eventually decided against selling him.

However, his long-term future at the club could be under doubt once again in January, which could put Rangers under pressure to reconsider their stance.

Scottish journalist Johnny McFarlane has already urged Rangers to consider selling Fernandez while his value remains high, warning that waiting too long could make it more difficult for the club to secure a big transfer fee.

“If Manny Fernandez was 22, then it’s a different market, I think”, he explained.

“At 25, which I think he turns in mid-November, in a month, that is going to be something that means Rangers have to accelerate a transfer move.

“All these factors play into when is the right time to move a player on. Once a player gets to 27/28, it starts to become an issue.”

Despite that argument, there are several reasons why Rangers cannot afford to lose the Super Eagles defender right now.

Emmanuel Fernandez: Why Rangers cannot afford to sell Super Eagles defender

1. Fernandez remains important to the squad

One of the biggest reasons Rangers must keep Fernandez is his importance to the team. The Nigerian defender may not have reached the outstanding levels he showed during his first season, but he has continued to prove that he is an important player for the Scottish giants.

He is also gradually developing a strong defensive partnership with young South African defender Olwethu Makhanya.

That partnership is beginning to look increasingly solid, with the pair helping Rangers keep clean sheets in recent games.

Fernandez’s availability is another major advantage for Rangers. He has been available to feature consistently, giving the manager a reliable option at the back.

Losing him in the middle of the season would therefore leave Rangers with a major gap to fill, especially if they cannot find a suitable replacement immediately.

2. Rangers need him in the title race

Rangers also cannot afford to weaken their squad if they are serious about challenging Celtic for the Scottish Premiership title.

The club have not won the league since the 2020/21 season, while Celtic have dominated the competition, winning five consecutive titles since then.

Rangers made a slow start to the current campaign but have managed to close the gap and are now just two points behind Celtic at the top of the table. With the title race beginning to take shape, selling one of their key defenders in January could seriously weaken their chances.

Allowing Fernandez to leave midway through the season would also reduce Rangers’ defensive strength while potentially giving Celtic a major advantage.

3. Rangers do not have a suitable replacement

Another big reason Rangers should resist any January move for Fernandez is that they do not appear to have a ready-made replacement for him.

The Light Blues would need to find a player capable of filling the huge void that would be left by the Super Eagles centre-back if he leaves the club.

There is also no guarantee that a new signing would develop the same understanding with Makhanya that Fernandez is currently building and a January transfer would give Rangers very little time to find a suitable replacement.

For now, Fernandez’s focus is on international duty with the Super Eagles as they prepare to face Russia in a friendly match on Tuesday.

He will then return to Rangers and will hope to continue his push towards his best form when the Scottish giants face Kilmarnock on Saturday.