Alan Hutton has indicated that Ridvan Yilmaz may deserve the chance to salvage his Rangers career with the £5 million Turkey international producing some ‘really good performances’ in recent weeks.
But are we already past the point of no return with Ridvan Yilmaz?
Rangers’ pursuit of a replacement appears to be well underway, an enquiry lodged for Liverpool’s Owen Beck amid ongoing interest in PSV Eindhoven’s Fredrik Oppegard, Hellas Verona’s Josh Doig and the now-free-agent Kai Wagner.
Herald and Times reporter Chris Jack, meanwhile, told Rangers Review this week that Yilmaz appears destined to be heading for the exit door this month, clubs in Turkey and Italy among a healthy throng of admirers.
But Hutton, speaking to Sky Sports, cannot help but wonder if Rangers are taking the right decision with a 22-year-old who has produced some of his most eye-catching displays since the appointment of Philippe Clement in the autumn.
Should Rangers keep Ridvan Yilmaz?
“It looks like (Borna) Barisic will be out of contract at the end of the season. Yilmaz was looking like the guy who was going to take over from him, but he has been a little bit in and out,” Hutton, who started his career at the Gers before joining Tottenham Hotspur for a then-record fee of £9 million, tells Sky Sports.
“But (Yilmaz) has had some really good performances the last few games.”
The former Besiktas flyer grabbed his first assist of the season during last week’s 3-1 triumph over Kilmarnock, setting up Todd Cantwell while showcasing his tactical intelligence when drifting into a more central role at times.
Return to Turkey on the cards
“It was interesting to watch him against Kilmarnock,” Hutton adds. He played a little more inside the pitch.
“If he was to go, they have to bring someone in.”
HITC Football understands that Rangers will not stand in Yilmaz’s way this month, however. Galatasaray are hoping to bring the leftie back to Istanbul, while there is also interest from clubs in France and Spain.
