Rangers transfer news: Fee breakdown emerges as Ridvan Yilmaz exit bid received at Ibrox amid confirmed big-money sale
Galatasaray’s spending power in their pursuit of Ridvan Yilmaz has improved but they don’t plan on increasing their offer to Rangers, according to Ali Naci Küçük.
The Turkish journalist said on Futbol Arena TV (30 January) that the Istanbul giants only want to pay a loan fee of €500,000 [£426,000], with an option to make the move permanent for a further €3m [£2.56m].
The Light Blues are said to be seeking €4.5m [£3.83m], either as a straight transfer or as a loan with an obligation attached, to let the 22-year-old leave Ibrox [Yağız Sabuncuoğlu, 27 January].
But Sacha Boey’s confirmed big-money move from Galatasaray to Bayern Munich has apparently not moved them to up their offer.
Naci Küçük said: “The ball is now in Rangers’ court regarding the transfer of Galatasaray’s Rıdvan Yılmaz. Galatasaray’s hand has been strengthened with the income from Sacha Boey, but they do not plan to increase the figure. 500 thousand € rental fee, 3m € purchase option.”
Stand off
If that is as far as Galatasaray are willing to go then presumably Ridvan won’t be leaving before the deadline after all.
The Gers seem unlikely to accept an offer below their reported asking price when they know the club that has made it have just sold a player to Bayern for £25.6m plus potential bonuses [The Athletic, 29 January].
Should Rangers need to shift their full-back in order to help fund their incoming January business then pressure may increase as the deadline approaches, but if they are prepared to keep him it seems logical that they will do so if the total value of the latest bid isn’t increasing.
And if it is just a loan with an option attached it doesn’t seem to be particularly beneficial to the club either way, since Yilmaz is playing some of his best football in Glasgow since arriving from Besiktas, which they would lose immediately, but he could still end up back at the club in the summer instead of the cash windfall.
Jefte is thought to be on the way in, while Borna Barisic’s future is also in doubt, so there is likely to still be movement of some sort at left-back in the coming days.
But despite links to an exit throughout the window it is starting to look like the current starter will remain in place for the time being at least.
In other Rangers news, the Light Blues have already agreed terms on another signing before the deadline but face having to double the transfer fee.
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