Ridvan Yilmaz has been linked with a move to Galatasaray but the Turkish giants insist there is ‘no truth’ in the rumours surrounding the £3.4 million Rangers benchwarmer.
Omitted from Rangers’ Europa League squad by Mick Beale and struggling to nail down a starting spot domestically too, the speculation hanging over Ridvan Yilmaz will come as no real surprise as the January transfer window looms on the horizon.
According to Turkish reporter Yagiz Sabuncuoglu, the full-back’s representative touched down in Glasgow last week to discuss the future of his client, a mid-season departure seemingly on the cards.
“Ridvan Yilmaz’s agent, Necdet Ergezen, went to Scotland to meet with Rangers,” writes Sabuncuoglu on X. “They are not very happy with Ridvan’s playing time. There will be a meeting between the parties regarding the future of the player.”
Will Ridvan Yilmaz leave Rangers after Christmas?
Yilmaz made his name at Besiktas, establishing himself as one of the most exciting talents in Turkey before moving to Rangers in the summer of 2022. The prospect of a return to the Super Lig continues to do the rounds in the media, but Galatasaray have been quick to remove their hat from the ring.
“We have not made any transfer plans yet,” an unnamed Galatasaray spokesperson tells Beyaz TV ahead of Wednesday’s crunch Champions League clash with Manchester United in Istanbul.
“The news that we are interested in or in talks with any of the players, especially Ridvan Yilmaz and (Borussia Dortmund midfielder) Salih Ozcan, do not reflect the truth.
“We will start our transfer efforts with our coach after Manchester United. Or after the Copenhagen match at the latest.”
Left out of Europa League squad
Yilmaz, who was linked with Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur and Rangers’ Europa League foes Eintracht Frankfurt not so long ago, has started only four Scottish Premiership games this season with Borna Barisic still firmly established as Philippe Clement’s first-choice left-back.
