Rangers transfer update: Ridvan Yilmaz suitors handed more money to spend amid January pursuit
Galatasaray now have “more money to spend” in their pursuit of Ridvan Yilmaz from Rangers but still haven’t met their asking price, according to Derek Clark.
The Rangers Review journalist reported via Twitter on 29 January that the Turkish side have had their finances boosted by the sale of Sacha Boey to German giants Bayern Munich.
The Istanbul-based club’s manager Okan Buruk is taken by the 22-year-old Yilmaz, but so far bids haven’t matched what the Light Blues want if they are to let him go, thought to be as much as €6milion [£5.1m] according to Futbol Arena on 22 January.
Transfer links to Turkey extend further than just a possible exit for the defender, with midfielder Jose Cifuentes also wanted by Rizespor, who have had a bid accepted, but the 24-year-old doesn’t want to go.
Boey’s exit is set to be worth €30m [£25.6m] with a further €5m [£4.3] in add-ons [Fabrizio Romano, 28 January].
Clark wrote: “Update from Turkey: Rizespor want Cifuentes but he doesn’t fancy it. Galatasaray have more money to spend after sale of Sacha Boey to Bayern. Okan Buruk is a big fan of Ridvan but they’ve yet to meet Rangers’ valuation.”
Pay up
If Galatasaray want Yilmaz then they will have to pay for him, as his current form won’t have done anything to make Philippe Clement or the Ibrox hierarchy interested in a discount.
They are likely to be happy not to part with him at all as he is showing the type of ability, and availability, that everyone has been waiting for over the past 18 months.
Rangers have spent big on Mohamed Diomande however, and there are more signings on the way in, including a left-back.
So the player-trading model being what it is the club will need to make money back from somewhere, and right now it appears that Yilmaz could be the quickest way to bank a decent amount.
After selling Boey for enough to buy the Gers defender about five times it will be known that the money is there, no-doubt only hardening the stance at Ibrox.
It would in many ways be a disappointment if Yilmaz left at this stage just as it looks like he is coming good after a year and a half of false dawns, but if enough money is put on the table and Jefte is able to be brought in before the deadline to replace him it might be a necessary sacrifice, although the chance to make money on Cifuentes would surely be a much more palatable move.
In other Rangers news, Michael Stewart says it is “clear” whether the Gers are trying to move on another forward before the deadline.
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