The centre-back is in high-demand after an impressive debut campaign for the Light Blues

17:40, 23 Apr 2026Updated 19:57, 23 Apr 2026

Rangers’ Emmanuel Fernandez

Former Rangers boss Dick Advocaat has emerged as a key figure behind Feyenoord’s potential big money raid on Ibrox for Manny Fernandez.

Record Sport revealed earlier this week that the Dutch giants are closely monitoring the form of the 6ft 4in centre half and have included his name on a list of six possible defensive signing targets.

And we understand Advocaat is assisting manager Robin van Persie to assess the club’s top targets as the pair plot a significant summer rebuild of the Rotterdam club’s current squad.

The Dutch outfit sent a talent spotter to Falkirk less than a fortnight ago to run the rule over Fernandez as Rangers came back from 2-0 down to romp to a 6-3 top flight win.

And they have been made aware of growing interest in the 24-year-old with sources in England crediting Arsenal as being among the possible rival bidders.

Fernandez was part of a major summer recruitment drive last summer when he arrived in Glasgow from Peterborough in a deal worth around £3.5m.

It’s understood that a significant sell on percentage was written into the agreement which means Rangers would be likely to demand top dollar to be tempted into sanctioning such a quick turnaround sale.

But, with some of the biggest clubs in Europe now circling, they could be made the kind of multi-million pound offer which would be difficult to refuse.

Fernandez then struggled for first team opportunities under beleaguered boss Russell Martin but has become a mainstay of Danny Rohl’s resurgent side over the second part of his breakout season, while also forcing his way into international football with Nigeria.

And this sudden surge in form has caught the eye of Feyenoord’s scouting department as well as that of Van Persie.

(Image: Getty Images)

Advocaat is now part of that process having recently stood down as the national boss of World Cup minnows Curacao.

The 78-year-old was planning on leading the Caribbean surprise packages to this summer’s tournament in the States, Canada and Mexico but resigned from his post in order to remain in the Netherlands after a close family member was diagnosed with a serious health issue.

But he was immediately snapped up on a part time consultancy role with Feyenoord and, as part of his duties, the man who led a Dutch revolution at Ibrox in 1998 and led Rangers to back to back league titles, is helping Van Persie put plans in place for next season.

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