Ridvan Yilmaz looks increasingly likely to be leaving Rangers in this transfer window, with Philippe Clement seeing left-backs linked on an almost daily basis.
The Gers boss has a decision to make though as clubs circle around the 22-year old who clearly has potential if you don’t have to defend long and high balls for 90-minutes every week, his recent form backs this up.
Having been credited with an interest before, Galatasaray have reportedly “made official contact” with Ridvan Yilmaz, via Turkish journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu, but Rangers shouldn’t be in a rush to sell.
Ridvan Yilmaz might be in line for Rangers exit and return home
He’s young, under contract for a long time and has two Serie A clubs in Torina and Verona sniffing about.
We certainly shouldn’t be selling to the first bidder.
Bought from Besiktas for an initial £3.4m, as we have seen in recent weeks, it has only been injury that has halted his progress.
Terrier like in defence, he has to use his speed to apply pressure to opponents which is also beneficial in driving attacks from deep.
We have seen his ball carrying skills to good effect and his ability to invert and contribute in midfield too.
Players like Kai Wagner, Fredrick Oppegard and Josh Doig have all been mentioned as possible replacements for Ridvan Yilmaz with Rangers clearly looking to overhaul the left-back area.
Borna Barisic is in demand and there is little chance of the veteran having his bumper deal extended.
More suitable, younger and more robust players are available on cheaper wages.
Stylistically, Ridvan is a good fit for Clement but, as we’ve seen, every team we play domestically targets him in transition, playing long balls as strikers look to isolate him one v one and compete in the air for flick-ons.
It’s basic, but effective.
There have been numerous reports that Ridvan is homesick so, a return to Turkey is probably an option that he would entertain, however, it has to be the right deal for Rangers.
If not, I for one, would gladly have the diminutive defender bombing up and down our left flank for the next few seasons.
