Rangers transfer news baffles at Ibrox after ‘surprise’ Keith Jackson question
Scott McDermott was baffled by Rangers’ decision to keep Ridvan Yilmaz after Keith Jackson quizzed the journalist on the Ibrox transfer news.
Besiktas made a last-ditch attempt to sign the Turkish full-back just hours before the UK deadline passed, submitting a loan-to-buy offer worth £830,000 which would include a mandatory £2.5million purchase clause [Yagiz Sabuncuoglu].
It is understood that both the Light Blues and the player turned the offer down, but with Turkey’s transfer window not closing until 11 February, Besiktas are still pushing for his signature [Haberturk].
Speaking via the Daily Record’s Hotline Live [3 February], Jackson said: “Rangers have knocked back a bid for Ridvan Yilmaz. I think it was 1million loan, with an obligation to buy, and 3million in the summer from Besiktas. Are you surprised at that?”
McDermott replied: “Slightly. Philippe Clement has said in the past few months that he wants to keep Yilmaz. He’ll be on a decent wage but he’s not the first-choice left-back. I’m a wee bit surprised.
“The way Rangers are operating now, trying to reshape the squad in terms of cutting the wage bill, Yilmaz is not the first choice and has problems with injuries. He’s not been reliable since he arrived at Ibrox.
“For that kind of money on an obligation to buy, I thought they might have considered it.”
Did Rangers miss a trick by keeping Ridvan Yilmaz?
Yilmaz is a bit of an enigma at Ibrox, at least has been during the winter transfer window after being continuously linked with a move away.
It looked as though a return to Turkey was set in stone for the 23-year-old, who arrived from Besiktas in July 2022, but after the passing of the UK deadline, he is still in Glasgow.
There has been plenty of speculation around his future, but with the Gers now thriving under Philippe Clement, even despite the heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Manchester United, Yilmaz has improved.
Injuries have been his worst enemy since signing for the Light Blues, but now he is fully fit and firing on all cylinders, Jefte is still being preferred to him at left-back.
Against tougher opposition, he is sometimes utilised further forward and can have a decent impact in the final third, but many supporters will feel that the club should have cashed in when they had the chance.
The Gers’ current financial situation is the most stable, and a single £3million+ Ibrox exit is not going to make all money problems disappear, but it certainly would have set the tone ahead of the summer window.
In other Rangers news, a striker quit Ibrox just before the transfer window slammed shut.
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