Ridvan Yilmaz excitement rubbished by Derek Ferguson as Rangers told to sell left-back
We’re delighted to welcome former Ibrox star Derek Ferguson as our exclusive Rangers columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points in Govan…
Derek Ferguson does not agree with the perception that Ridvan Yilmaz has been in “absolutely brilliant” form and thinks Rangers should still cash in before the end of the transfer window on Thursday (1 February).
Turkey international Yilmaz has enjoyed a run in the team as of late despite constant links with a return to his homeland with Galatasaray.
The 22-year-old left-back has not always been a regular since arriving in July 2022, though, and there have been reports that he fancies a return home in order to cement his chances of playing for his country at Euro 2024.
A claim from Spor Arena on Wednesday (31 January) suggested that Rangers are looking for £5million-plus to sanction Yilmaz’s exit and Ferguson, who thinks he lacks the physical traits to succeed in Scotland, would have no qualms about seeing him leave.
Speaking exclusively to Ibrox News, he said: “The Yilmaz story cracks on.
“He’s desperate to play in the Euros so he needs to be playing first-team football, which he has got over the last two to three games.
“I’m probably one of the few who’s maybe not got as excited as the rest, I think he’s done okay but everybody seems to have this view that he’s played absolutely brilliant.
“For me Yilmaz, he’s kind of up and down sometimes, sometimes he can do stuff that’s really good then has moments that are really poor.
“I get he’s still a youngish guy, youngish man, but I think the physicality as well we need that in our game, he’s not the biggest. You look at the game against St Mirren last weekend they played Dujon Stirling wide left, he’s a full back out of position but I think he was there because of the lack of height and physicality at set-pieces, I think that’s always a problem if you play Yilmaz there.
“He’s done okay, I don’t think he’s been as brilliant as a lot of other pundits and fans have been saying I think there’s still a lot in his game that he needs to improve.
“So if we get decent money in for him and we get a move and he gets his opportunity to play in the Euros I think it will be a good move all round.”
In other Rangers news, Ally McCoist and Jeff Stelling discussed Jack Butland’s future live on talkSPORT.
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