Credit: Imago

Henry Green

Sat 5 July 2025 13:45, UK

Russell Martin’s Rangers are hard at work building a squad capable of toppling Celtic next season.

The 39-year-old will be given plenty of funds by the 49ers Enterprises and Andrew Cavenagh to spend on further incomings, with three already confirmed.

The Gers have already brought in the likes of Joe Rothwell and could now be set to raise funds with the sale of some fringe players, with Ridvan Yilmaz possibly in trouble.

Max Aarons takes Yilmaz’s Rangers squad number

Following Rangers’ confirmation of the loan signing of Max Aarons, Yilmaz’s future has been up in the air.

There has been no shortage of speculation linking Rangers with further incomings, and the Turkey international could become a victim of Martin’s new era.

As shown in Rangers’ training photos, Aarons appears to have taken Yilmaz’s shirt number, three.

Yilmaz struggled to nail down a place in the starting XI last season, with Jefté often preferred at left-back, and has been linked with a move back to his native Turkey.

Liverpool left-back Owen Beck is understood to be another player on Martin’s radar at Ibrox.

The links have added to speculation that Yilmaz’s time in Glasgow is up; however, the Gers won’t likely make any more moves in that area for now.

Yilmaz should depart Rangers to help his career

Martin has already shown his intent to build a side that fits his possession-based philosophy, with Rothwell and Aarons well-known to him.

Yilmaz’s injury struggles may worry the new Rangers boss, and his game time would likely be restricted next season.

Therefore, the defender must move on next season for the sake of his own career.

At 24, Yilmaz can’t afford to be sitting on the bench when he can develop into an excellent defender elsewhere, with his former side, Besiktas, always said to be an option.

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