Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony has hinted the League One club could be in line for another significant windfall this summer, with Rangers defender Emmanuel Fernandez appearing the obvious candidate.
Speaking on talkSPORT, MacAnthony discussed Peterborough's transfer model and suggested the club could soon benefit from a lucrative sell-on clause.
"Say we sell a player in Scotland, who then gets a move to Europe this summer, we get a good sell on."
While MacAnthony did not identify the player by name, Fernandez is the standout Rangers player to fit the description.
The centre-back joined Rangers from Peterborough last summer and it has long been understood that the English club negotiated a sell-on clause as part of the deal, a strategy MacAnthony has frequently spoken about as central to Peterborough's recruitment model.
European interest already emerged
MacAnthony's comments come after Fernandez was linked with a move to Bundesliga sides Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich earlier this year.
Although no transfer materialised, the reported interest underlined the growing reputation of the defender following an encouraging first season at Ibrox.
Fernandez quickly established himself as an important member of the Rangers squad after arriving in Glasgow, with his athleticism and composure earning praise despite the team's inconsistent campaign.
Should another European club revive their interest before the transfer window closes, Peterborough would stand to benefit financially through the sell-on clause negotiated when Fernandez left London Road.
Rangers face transfer decision
Rangers have shown throughout the summer they are prepared to make difficult decisions as Derek McInnes reshapes his squad, but Fernandez remains one of the club's most valuable defensive assets.
Any serious approach from Europe would likely require a substantial transfer fee before Rangers even considered entering negotiations.
Rangers would look for a deal which exceeds the £19.6m received for fellow Nigerian international Calvin Bassey from Ajax in summer 2022.
The United top boss mentioned £25 to £30m as the range of this unnamed hypothetical player.
MacAnthony's comments are unlikely to have been accidental.
The Peterborough chairman is well known for speaking openly about transfer business, and his latest remarks suggest the League One club believe one of their former players could soon complete a move from Scotland to the continent.
While he stopped short of naming Fernandez directly, the Rangers defender appears the most obvious fit given his move from Peterborough last summer and the previous interest from Bayer Leverkusen.
Whether that interest develops into a formal offer remains to be seen, but MacAnthony's comments have added fresh intrigue to Fernandez's future as the transfer window enters its final weeks.
Add us as a preferred source on Google