Joshua Barrie moots Rangers loan signing amid Ridvan Yilmaz ‘risk’
Journalist Joshua Barrie thinks it would be a “risk” for Rangers to allow Ridvan Yilmaz to depart Ibrox in the January transfer window but would understand selling if it allowed attacking reinforcements to be brought in.
The 22-year-old left-back has been linked with moves to both Galatasaray and Hellas Verona already this month and it had been suggested Gala were exploring an initial loan deal having agreed personal (Milliyet, 17 January).
However, Yagiz Sabuncuoglu told the Sports Digitale YouTube channel (17 January) that there is “no desire” from boss Philippe Clement to let Yilmaz leave before the end of the month and only a fee upwards of £4.3million [€5million] would make them consider cashing in.
Barrie thinks there is a scenario whereby Rangers could allow Yilmaz to leave, draft in a loan signing to replace him, and use the cash to bring in a forward, but acknowledged the pitfalls that may bring.
He told the Rangers Review Podcast (18 January): “Let’s say Rangers, hypothetically, were able to get £3-4million for Ridvan, maybe have a loan at left-back that then addresses that short term and is still a quality player, although I think that’s a risk as we’ve spoken about with Fabio Silva, and then you’re able to go and spend that money on someone in the final third who then gets you over the line in certain games then I can understand the logic behind that.
“I think it would be a risk but maybe it kind of depends on the moving pieces of the January transfer window.”
Up in the air
It really is very difficult to know how this one will end up come the end of the window because, frankly, no one seems to know with any certainty what all parties want from it.
Clement has a bit of a dilemma insofar as if he allowes Yilmaz to leave then his only senior left-back option is Borna Barisic, a player who is out of contract at the end of the season.
So, he doesn’t want to leave himself short and face the possibility of having to utilise a makeshift option there at times in the second half of the campaign, especially given Rangers are bang in the title race.
But, as Barrie rightly points out, it could be that any money raised from his sale could allow a forward to be brought to Ibrox, and many accept that a new striker would be a much-welcome addition for the next few months.
A lot can change between now and the close of the window, so it is by no means certain that Yilmaz is still here when it slams shut.
In other Rangers news, Steven Naismith has dropped an update on Lawrence Shankland amid rumours the Hearts ace could move to Ibrox.
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