Turkish journalist has intel on Ridvan Yilmaz, left-back to quit Rangers in next 24 hours
Ridvan Yilmaz will leave Rangers to sign for Galatasaray before the end of the winter transfer window, according to A Spor journalist Emre Kaplan.
Writing via his personal X account on Wednesday (31 January), the Turkish reporter claimed that he’s received intel that suggests Yilmaz, 22, will head to Istanbul before the Super Lig transfer window closes on 9 February.
Yilmaz has been strongly linked with a move to Galatasaray throughout January.
“From what I understand from the intelligence I have received so far, if the local full-back is to come, it looks like it will be Rıdvan Yılmaz,” said Kaplan.
Not happening
We cannot see Rangers agreeing to get rid of Yilmaz now.
Not only is the left-back in superb form for Philippe Clement and looks to have turned a major corner after being let down massively by Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Michael Beale, the squad would also be massively weakened without him.
If Yilmaz leaves in the next 24 hours, who are we going to get in to replace him?
Fabrizio Romano reported earlier on Wednesday how the deal to sign Fluminense left-back Jefte is now unlikely to go ahead until June so if that deal is lined up for the summer, it makes sense to keep Yilmaz until then before getting rid of either him or the ageing Borna Barisic.
Galatasaray have another week to complete signings due to the protracted nature of the Turkish transfer window but even if a stupid bid comes in, it wouldn’t make sense for Rangers to let Yilmaz leave.
They won’t want to replace him now, nor should they.
It’s probably time to start ignoring these stubborn reports from Turkey.
In other Rangers news, the Gers have a verbal pact in place to complete a post-winter transfer.
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