German Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen have intensified their efforts to sign Nigerian defender Emmanuel Fernandez from Scottish giants Rangers, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
According to TEAMtalk, the Bundesliga club have made fresh contact with Rangers regarding a potential move for the centre-back, who enjoyed an outstanding campaign at Ibrox last season.
Fernandez joined Rangers from English League One outfit Peterborough United last summer and quickly established himself as one of the club’s most influential players. The defender was named Rangers’ Player of the Season after a remarkable debut campaign in which he also contributed five goals.
His impressive performances earned him a place in the PFA Team of the Year and attracted interest from several top clubs across Europe.
Fellow Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund are also reportedly monitoring the Nigerian international, while Premier League clubs Arsenal, Chelsea, West Ham United and Everton have all been credited with an interest in the defender.
Rangers are believed to value Fernandez at around €25 million, representing a substantial increase on the £3.5 million fee they paid Peterborough United to secure his signature.
With interest continuing to grow, discussions are expected to intensify in the coming weeks as Bayer Leverkusen explore the possibility of reaching an agreement for the highly-rated defender.