Ex-Arsenal man pours cold water on Rangers link as 'no comparison' verdict given on Steven Gerrard
Former Arsenal man has rejected talk of a summer move for the Rangers star.
Rangers have been told not to worry about losing Emmanuel Fernandez to English Premier League title chasers Arsenal this summer - because the club “don’t need him.”
Fernandez, 24, has been one of the Rangers’ standout performers this season following his £2.5million arrival from Peterborough United in the summer, becoming one of the first names on Danny Rohl’s team sheet since the German’s arrival in October.
Named in the Scottish PFA Team of the Year earlier this week, the defender has been linked to European giants such as Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Leverkusen in recent months, with reports also claiming Mikel Arteta’s side have been keeping tabs on his progress ahead of a potential summer move.
In response to the growing interest in his services, the Glasgow giants were said to have slapped a £35million price tag on Fernandez’s head. However, former Arsenal striker Alan Smith isn’t sure the rumours have any substance, as he’s not sure where he’d fit into the Gunners’ squad.
“I don’t see why they’d need a centre-half anyway,” said Smith. “Looking at his previous clubs, Spalding United on loan, Peterborough. Yes, he’s had a good season at Rangers, but who knows whether he can continue that kind of form at a higher level. I’d be surprised if Arsenal went for him given that, [Jurrian] Timber can play in the middle; plus they’ve got [Cristhian] Mosquera, so they’ve got good cover in the middle.”
Smith, 63, also shared his thoughts on former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard’s rumoured return to management after a 15-month spell out of the game. The ex-Ibrox boss is understood to be high on the shortlist of replacements for the outgoing Scott Parker, whose immediate departure from Turf Moor was confirmed on Thursday following the club's relegation to the EFL Championship.
Gerrard, the last man to lead Rangers to the Scottish Premiership title, departed Ibrox to join Aston Villa shortly after winning the league in 2021, but struggled to impress in the Midlands and was sacked less than a year into the role. He later moved to the Saudi Pro League with Al-Ettifaq, managing them between July 2023 and January 2025, but has been out of work since.
However, Gerrard is now emerging as a leading contender to replace Parker in the summer, according to several reports. Former Arsenal striker and current TV pundit, Smith, believes the Clarets would be taking a risk by appointing the ex-Rangers manager, claiming his success at Ibrox will have no bearing on whether he can cut it at Burnley.
“You’d have to say the jury’s still out with Gerrard,” Smith told BestBettingSites.co.uk. “In terms of managing English clubs. Villa, it didn’t go well, and Unai Emery engineered a very quick improvement. He obviously did well at Rangers, but that’s a different kettle of fish. So it’s a bit of a gamble, I’d say. We all want to see Steven Gerrard do well. A lot of people are pleased Frank Lampard’s done well at Coventry. But I’m sure he’s keen to get back in. But it would be a gamble.”
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