West Ham United are looking to make a second summer signing from Glasgow as they consider a move to prize defender Emmanuel Fernandez away from Rangers.
The Hammers have already signed Belgian midfield ace Arne Engels from Scottish Premiership champions Celtic in a deal worth a reported £22m.
Now boss Nuno Espirito Santo is casting his eye northwards once more for central defender Fernandez from the blue half of Glasgow.
The 25-year-old London-born central defender signed for the Light Blues last summer from Peterborough for an undisclosed fee.
Despite Rangers' struggles as they finished behind Celtic and Hearts in the league, Fernandez was the only Ibrox operator included in PFA Scotland's Premiership team of the season having established himself as a key part of Danny Rohl's side.
As well as his defensive capabilities, Fernandez scored five Premiership goals for Rangers last season and, in March, made his international debut for Nigeria in a game against Iran.
It has been a summer of change at Rangers, with Rohl departing and Derek McInnes installed in the Ibrox dugout.
Things have not started as the former Hearts boss would have hoped. His side were eliminated from the Europa League qualifiers by Polish outfit Jagiellonia and took just one point from their opening two league fixtures.
They were 5-1 winners against St Mirren last weekend in the Premier Sports Cup and limped to a 1-0 win over Jablonec in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers on Thursday night.
Fernandez attempted to be positive in possession in that contest but lots of Rangers teammates looked uncertain of themselves, leaving the defender cutting a frustrated figure.
Jablonec striker Lamin Jawo aimed a dig at the Gers defender post-game, suggesting: "I have played against the strongest defenders in the Czech Republic, so this was not that big of a difference for me.
"I think it was 50/50 with him. It was not that difficult and maybe I won more aerial duels than him."
Earlier this week reports linked Fernandez with a €25m move to Bayer Leverkusen as the Bundesliga giants were said to be interested.
According to a report on Football FanCast, Rangers have placed a price tag in excess of £20m on their asset.
West Ham have already invested significantly this summer as they seek an immediate return to the Premier League for 2027/28.
Keiber Lamadrid, Joel Veltman and Manor Solomon joined on permanent deals with Leeds loanee Joel Piroe also coming in before Engels signed on.
The former Celtic star is in line for a debut as the Hammers host Charlton Athletic in their first Championship home game of the season on Saturday.
West Ham surrendered a 2-0 lead at Burnley in last weekend's curtain-raiser and it has been reported that they are chasing another defender before the transfer window closes.
Axel Disasi spent time on loan at the club last season but the Frenchman has opted against a permanent move to the Hammers following their relegation and is in talks over a season-long loan move to Crystal Palace instead.
That leaves West Ham looking elsewhere for defensive reinforcements for the long and arduous Championship campaign ahead and it appears as though boss Nuno is considering a second raid on the Old Firm.
Time is crucial with a little over a week before the transfer window closes in England on Tuesday, 1st September.
The Championship outfit will hope that a return to London may appeal to Fernandez, though the lure of a possible move to the Bundesliga could derail West Ham's hopes.
Meanwhile Rangers, after their slow start to the season, will be loath to lose a key part of their jigsaw as the closure of the window looms in Scotland on Thursday, 3rd September.
