How Emmanuel Fernandez' Rangers transfer picture has changed after West Ham update

Emmanuel Fernandez has been subject to many transfer links due his 2025-2026 season with Rangers.

The 25-year-old centre-back emerged as one of the Glasgow outfits' best performers last season.

Those performances have been catching attention throughout Europe, with West Ham routinely named as a plausible destination for him.

The Hammers are in the Championship, but could offer him a route to Premier League football should they achieve their promotion ambitions.

Nuno Espirito Santo has been needing to add a centre-back to his ranks this summer.

But whether or not West Ham are set to make their play for Fernandez has now emerged.

What is the latest on West Ham's interest in Emmanuel Fernandez?

Rangers have set a high price for Fernandez this summer as multiple clubs are said to be eyeing the defender.

Bayer Leverkusen, Atalanta and West Ham are all said to be interested in the Nigerian international.

However, according to journalist, Scott Burns, who writes for Daily Record and the PLC Reach group, rumours of West Ham looking to sign Fernandez are wide of the mark.

The reporter has responded to a post on X, stating that: "West Ham United are not interested."

For Rangers supporters, that will be music to their ears, although, the Nigerian defender has had an inconsistent start to this season.

Nonetheless, Fernandez has proved to be a top-quality central defender and a player that Gers fans will want to stick around.

Especially seeing as he has started every competitive game so far under Derek McInnes this season.

How Rangers already have answer to Fernandez exit question

While West Ham not being in the race for Fernandez, as initially thought, is good news, there are still those looking to sign him.

But whether or not Rangers should sanction an exit has already become clear, or so it should.

With little time left in the transfer window, the Bears cannot afford to let a key player such as Fernandez to leave as getting a replacement would prove tough.

If the Nigerian internaitonal was to leave Ibrox this summer, that should have come much earlier in the window, allowing the Bears to correctly react.

McInnes does have five centre-backs currently in his ranks, with Ross McCrorie a possible sixth option if needed.

However, those numbers are already set to slim down with John Souttar's future unclear at Ibrox.