Ridvan Yilmaz offered proposal to quit Rangers, Ibrox left-back decides on January transfer
Ridvan Yilmaz has effectively turned down an approach from Galatasaray after they put forward a proposal to the Rangers left-back, according to Yağız Sabuncuoğlu.
The SportsDigitale journalist reported via the news outlet’s YouTube channel on Tuesday (9 January) that Galatasaray had been in touch with Yilmaz, 22, directly about a transfer to Istanbul this month.
It is understood that an offer was put forward to the Ibrox left-back and he was directly asked if he will leave the Gers to join the Turkish Super Lig giants.
However, Sabuncuoğlu reports that ex-Besiktas left-back Yilmaz isn’t interested in a return to Turkey just yet with Serie A club Hellas Verona keen on signing him after scouting him in his last three appearances.
Yilmaz’s top priority is to join a club where he’ll be guaranteed to earn a lot of game time so a move back to his home nation isn’t entirely off the table.
However, it sure looks as though Galatasaray – for now – have been turned down by the Rangers full-back.
Keep him for now?
Yilmaz has been getting more game-time than usual under Philippe Clement due to Borna Barisic’s injury.
Barisic, 31, hasn’t played as much as he normally would this season due to multiple issues, which has allowed Yilmaz to play 14 times in all competitions for the Light Blues.
Since joining the Gers from Besiktas in July 2022, Yilmaz has only played 29 times in total so he’s only one appearance from doubling his overall match tally this term.
Should he stay at Rangers and see out the season?
It’s a risk either way because if Barisic is fit and ready to play, he’ll start nine out of 10 games at left-back, leaving Yilmaz to pick up the scraps and only play sparingly.
But Clement might want to start thinking about a long-term plan and with Yilmaz being nine years Barisic’s junior, that’s an avenue the Belgian manager could explore in order to save money this month and avoid having to sign a new left-back, which he’d need to do if the Turkey international moves on.
In other Rangers news, a European club is readying a contract offer to sign this long-serving Ibrox star.