Portsmouth rivals in talks to sign highly-rated £25m Rangers man as Southampton reject fresh £18m top-flight bid
The latest transfer headlines involving Pompey’s Championship rivals.
Pompey are back in action this weekend as they travel to Sincil Bank to face Championship new-boys Lincoln City.
The Blues are looking for their first victory of the campaign after their opening-day defeat to QPR last Saturday as well as their loss to West Ham in the Carabao Cup.
The head coach isn’t expecting any further arrivals ahead of their trip to Lincoln on Saturday, but has hinted at further business taking place next week.
A number of departures are also on the cards before the transfer window’s climax, with the futures of Hayden Matthews, Luke Le Roux, Josh Knight and more under the spotlight.
Elsewhere, gossip and speculation continues to do the rounds across the Championship as clubs continue their summer spending.
Here are the latest transfer headlines involving the Blues’ second-tier rivals.
West Ham in talks for £25m Rangers man
West Ham are reportedly in talks to sign Rangers defender Emmanuel Fernandez.
The Hammers have been monitoring the centre-back’s situation at Ibrox throughout the summer as Nuno Espirito Santo assembles his squad for Championship football.
Six players have arrived through the doors at the London Stadium so far, with Manor Soloman, Joel Veltman, Arne Engels and Keiber Lamadrid, Joel Piroe and Divine Musaka.
That number is expected to increase in the coming days, with the east London outfit plotting a potential move for Fernandez.
According to German news outlet Fussball Daten, West Ham are in discussions with the Gers ahead of a potential move before the window’s climax.
The report does state Rangers currently the centre-back between £21m and £25m, which would represent a record sale for the Glasgow outfit.
Although talks with his representatives have begun, Derek McInness’ side are hoping to keep hold of the defender, who is also on the radar of Bayer Leverkusen and Atalanta.
The London-born Nigeria international impressed during his maiden campaign at Ibrox, where he amassed 33 appearances following his switch from Peterborough United last summer.
Despite starting all six of Rangers’ matches so far this season in all competitions, the Scottish Premiership side are now facing a battle to keep hold of Fernandez, who still has three-years left on his current terms.
West Ham kick-started the new campaign with a 3-1 triumph over Mousinho’s troops in the Carabao Cup earlier this month and will later make the trip to Fratton Park in the Championship in November.
Southampton reject fresh bid
Southampton have rejected a fresh bid for in-demand defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis, according to reports.
After batting off a £17m offer from Benfica for the 24-year-old, Aston Villa are the latest top-flight club looking to make a move.
Sky Sports have revealed the Villans have had an £18m bid rejected by Pompey’s south-coast rivals, who are hoping to keep the one-cap international in their ranks this summer.
The report states Unai Emery’s side have their sights on Harwood-Bellis, who is viewed as the ideal replacement for Ezri Konsa who is closing in on a £51m move to Arsenal.
Southampton have placed a £30m price tag on the centre-back, with Aston Villa’s offer falling short of their staggering valuation.
The ex-Manchester City man has amassed 134 appearances in all competitions during two stints at St Mary’s, which also included outings against Pompey in both south-coast derby fixtures last season, and has two-years remaining on his current terms.
Your next Pompey read: £4.2m-rated forward linked with Portsmouth, Coventry and Birmimgham joins new club on loan