To use Philippe Clement’s own words, the performances of Rangers full-back Ridvan Yilmaz in the early weeks of 2025 have been something of a ‘positive surprise’.
At a time when the Belgian has been forced to try and cram square pegs into round holes due to a defensive injury crisis – see James Tavernier at centre-half, Ross McCausland moonlighting as a full-back – Ridvan Yilmaz spent a few games on the right-hand side of the Rangers backline.
And, funnily enough, a chance in position brought about arguably the best game of his Ibrox career.
Ridvan Yilmaz was ‘outstanding’ as Rangers thrashed Celtic 3-0 on their first outing of the New Year. Not just going forward – he mustered the most shots of any player – but defensively too.
While the injured Tavernier has endured his fair share of ragdolling up against the irrepressible Daizen Maeda, Yilmaz was having none of it as he clamped the Celtic forward in a vice-like grip.
That new-found versatility – Clement called Ridvan Yilmaz a ‘warrior’ after he played as a winger against Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League too – means the Turkey international has probably never been more important to the Rangers cause.
No wonder Clement is keen to keep him.
Rangers reportedly demand £4m as Besiktas target Ridvan Yilmaz
Speculation regarding a potential return to Turkey has risen it’s head – as it tends to do in every transfer window – with the story gathering pace in his homeland over the course of the last 48 hours or so.
Besiktas are reportedly keen to reunite with a player they sold to Rangers two-and-a-half years ago for a fee of £3.4 million. But with a contract running until 2027, and with Yilmaz growing in stature and importance at Ibrox, his current employers are in no rush to green-light a departure when there are still plenty of domestic and European commitments to come over the next few months.
Turkish publication Yeni Birlik reports that Rangers have slapped a sticker on Yilmaz’s head reading £4 million. That is a problem for Besiktas.
Now under the stewardship of Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after Besiktas fired ex-Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst, the Super Lig outfit have a budget of just £2.5 million this month.
As such, in the knowledge that they cannot afford to buy him outright before the Turkish window closes on February 11th, Besiktas are instead being forced to consider different approaches.
Though Rangers have not taken kindly to an opening offer that would have seen Yilmaz return to the Vodafone Arena on loan with a purchase clause in his contract.
Rangers have made it clear that, if they are to consider selling Yilmaz, they would not only want a cash sum now, but also a profit on their £3.4 million investment.
Philippe Clement confident Yilmaz will stay at Ibrox
Tellingly, Philippe Clement was quick to shut down those Ridvan Yilmaz rumours last week, meanwhile. The full-back set tongues wagging when he seemingly posted a photo of himself enjoying a coffee in Istanbul, though any trip he may have made back home came about because of an injury which rendered him unavailable for the 3-1 comeback win at Dundee United.
“Ridvan has a small injury,” Clement explained. “It’s not long-term. He was not fit enough to play in this game.
“I heard all of the rumours around him, that he is going to leave. But I can say to all of the fans that it’s totally not true.
“It’s just a small injury.”
