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Ridvan Yilmaz ‘expected’ to leave Rangers as gallus Galatasaray go big with ‘bumper new offer’

Published

10 months ago

February 1, 2024

The 22-year-old has been linked with an Ibrox exit throughout the window but his departure would leave a left back void.

Galatasaray are ready to pull out all the stops in a bid to land Rangers full-back Ridvan Yilmaz by getting closer to the Ibrox club’s £4 million valuation of the player, according to a report in Turkey.

But that would leave Philippe Clement facing a huge dilemma after the Light Blues move for potential replacement Jefte, on loan at APOEL Nicosia from Fluminense, collapsed. And in a further twist, while Galatasaray are pulling out all the stops to land him today the Super Lig side would have until February 9 to complete a deal with the transfer deadline extended in Turkey, while it closes at 11.30pm in Scotland.

Clement warned that he wouldn’t allow either Yilmaz or his fellow left back Borna Barisic leave Ibrox without a replacement but Galatasaray appear determined to test Rangers’ resolve for a player with ambitions of making his country’s Euro 2024 squad and playing regularly, particularly in his homeland, would likely boost his chances. The 22-year-old was signed from Besiktas for an initial fee of £3.4m but struggled to make a real impact with many of his best displays coming in recent weeks – ironically just as speculation links him with an exit.

Galatasaray have had bids rejected but now Fotomac say the Istanbul giants are about to make a real push on the UK deadline day. They wrote: “Negotiations have been going on with Glasgow Rangers for a while for Rıdvan Yilmaz, Galatasaray’s strongest left-back candidate. Galatasaray, who wanted to rent Ridvan Yilmaz, offered three million euros for the purchase option, but this offer was not accepted. They are expected to increase the price and complete the transfer. It is also seen as an advantage for Ridvan, who wants to play regularly to take part in the European Championship squad, to side with the yellow-red team.”