The Rangers star has been linked to West Ham United and more in recent weeks.
Emmanuel Fernandez has addressed his international first - as a mega transfer fee floated for the Rangers centre-back is assessed.
West Ham United are one of the clubs to have been linked with the defender who joined the Premiership side last summer from Peterborough United in the EFL. He has grown from an unconvincing present initially in the middle of the Ibrox defence to regular starter, turning a dangerous threat from set-plays at the other end.
Amid the links to West Ham and more, Fernandez has been called into the senior Nigeria ranks for friendlies this month with Iran and Jordan. Now speaking with OwnGoal Nigeria, the defender said it was an opportunity simply too good to turn down.
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What international team does Emmanuel Fernandez represent?
He said: “When the call came in I couldn’t say no. There was no way I will turn down a chance to play for a great football nation like Nigeria. The idea is to go in there and make a mark.”
Peterborough United director of football, Barry Fry, has been bullish in his assertions that Fernandez could go for a mega fee upwards of £40m. Those claims have been assessed by ex-Sunderland and Wolves star Don Goodman, who reckons those type of figures can only be dreamt over, but does acknowledge growth for Fernandez at Rangers.
He’s quoted in the Daily Record: “Barry's still at it! I'm assuming from his comments that Peterborough United have a sell-on clause! He's not going to say he's worth £400,000, is he? Because that isn't any use to Peterborough.
How much could Rangers sell Emmanuel Fernandez for?
“But no, look, he's done well. think he's made 18 starts and as a centre-half, he scored five goals (in the league). Whenever I've seen Rangers, he's a real threat from set pieces. He's a big lad and he gets his, first contact with a lot of the set pieces. I haven't seen enough of him to pass a major judgement or say compare him to Virgil van Dijk, but £40m is a Peterborough tax given by Barry Fry, I would dare to suggest.”
Fry said previously to the Scottish Sun: "When we sold Manny to Rangers, the fans up there had a right go at me, saying he was the worst player they had signed. I just knew Fernandez had to be given a chance. I made it clear Rangers would eventually sell him for £30m or even £40m. I said he'd score goals as well and just come through strong for them.
"Honestly, he just had to be given an opportunity. Early on they didn't give him one. He only got one or two games and I wasn't popular up there with Rangers fans! Just look at Manny now. He has shown the Rangers fans he can defend and he can score goals. He's a good player, it's as simple as that. But I definitely don't want to be saying, 'Told you so' to the supporters fans.”
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