There has been plenty of transfer discussion this summer among the Rangers support and wider football circles and it is fair to say that some moves make more headlines than others. In this case the latest piece of business out of Ibrox has raised more than a few eyebrows and left many onlookers scratching their heads. The story centres on a player from England’s third tier and the figures involved in his transfer are what has really set tongues wagging.

Rangers have now sealed the signing of Emmanuel Fernandez from Peterborough United for a reported £3.5 million. The problem is not the player himself necessarily but the background and reaction from his former fanbase. Peterborough supporters have almost universally branded him deadwood. Many comments online describe him as mistake prone and simply not up to standard. This is not a player they are sad to lose. In fact quite the opposite. The consensus is that Chairman Barry Fry has worked absolute magic to get that kind of fee from anyone let alone Rangers.

The disbelief stems mainly from the staggering gap between Fernandez’s perceived value and what Rangers have paid. His Transfermarkt value was around £300,000 yet the club from Govan has forked out over ten times that amount. For a League One player whose own club’s fans are mocking the sale as a daylight robbery it is certainly not a good look. This is not the kind of shrewd scouting and clever budgeting fans were hoping for during this window.

The question on everyone’s lips now is what on earth Rangers are playing at. If Fernandez turns out to be a gem in disguise then credit will be due but at present this has all the hallmarks of another questionable deal. The kind that has marred the club’s recent transfer record and drained limited resources without clear returns. Whether this signing was pushed through by scouts or analysts or agents will perhaps come out in time. For now supporters are left to wonder whether this is money well spent or just another swing and miss from the Rangers boardroom.

More on Fernandez’s market value and fan views adds further context to this baffling situation.