Ridvan Yilmaz unhappy at Rangers and interested in exit, multiple clubs ready to bid
Ridvan Yilmaz is unhappy at Rangers and is “warmly” interested in a return to Besiktas on loan as Turkish clubs queue up for him, according to Takvim.
The Turkey international left-back only arrived from the Vodafone Park in the summer, but has been unable to shift Borna Barisic in the line-up and is now injured until after the World Cup, having picked up a problem against Aberdeen just when it appeared he was making a breakthrough.
He is therefore well disposed to the idea of a return to his home country where there is apparently no shortage of interest in his services.
Şenol Güneş replaced Valerien Ismael as Besiktas boss late last month and according to Takvim wants to take the young defender back, as he is unhappy with West Ham loanee Arthur Masuaku.
A return to his previous club is apparently the Gers man’s preferred option, although fellow Turkish sides Galatasaray and Trabzonspor are also interested and “ready to make a transfer move”.
Yilmaz has so far made seven Light Blues appearances in all competitions, but has completed fewer than 90 minutes total in the SPFL.
Dream turned sour
With Barisic’s form so inconsistent last year and Calvin Bassey sold to Ajax in the summer it seemed an absolute necessity to bring in a strong option at left-back for the new season.
Rangers spent £3.4million, potentially rising to £5million, for the young international [Sky Sports] but as of yet have barely seen a return on investment.
Whether that is the responsibility of the player struggling to adjust or embattled manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst being unwilling to trust him is unclear, but it hasn’t contributed to a happy time so far for either.
If the plug is to be pulled on the move after just six months it would be a major disappointment for the club, and would heap further pressure on Ross Wilson.
A loan back to Turkey to rebuild some confidence with a view to returning stronger next season might have some merit, but would still be a significant misstep for this campaign’s plan.
If it is to be a permanent move to either of the three interested sides then Rangers surely can’t accept anything less than what they spent, considering it is becoming clear that the financial situation at the club is much less bountiful than widely expected.
The ideal scenario is that Yilmaz returns from injury after the World Cup and is ready to play his way into form, but if it is accurate that he already wants out then the Gers are clearly in no position to be making a loss after less than a year.
In other Rangers news, the board have sympathy for the manager despite miserable situation as new key factor in sack decision emerges.