Premier League outfit West Ham United are in talks to sign Bradley Locko from Stade Brestois as Rangers’ Ridvan Yilmaz saga takes another twist.
Will he, or won’t he? Is he staying, or going?
With just one week of the window remaining, we are no closer to answering a question which has been on the lips of Rangers supporters throughout the winter period, Ridvan Yilmaz’s immediate future as uncertain now as it was during the Christmas period.
Is Ridvan Yilmaz staying at Rangers?
The former Besiktas flyer emerged as a target for Hellas Verona recently, and a likely replacement for Sassuolo’s new £5 million acquisition Josh Doig. According to reports from out of Italy, however, the Serie A strugglers have now turned their attention to another left-back, Sporting Lisbon’s former Wolves and Everton benchwarmer Ruben Vinagre.
But if the chances of a January switch to Hellas Verona are decreasing, then the opposite may be true as far as Galatasaray are concerned.
Especially with West Ham United entering talks over a deal that would see the highly-rated Bradley Locko move to London rather than Istanbul (Foot Mercato).
Turkey return still possible for Ibrox man
Locko, per Haber Turk, was Galatasaray’s number one left-back target. But after seeing a reported £3 million bid turned down by Brest – and with West Ham now moving into pole position – Galatasaray could find themselves glancing further down the shopping list and launching a late assault on Yilmaz before the window closes next week.
Whether Rangers would be open to offers, at this stage of proceedings however, is another matter.
Philippe Clement appeared to suggest on Friday that Yilmaz was welcome to stick around for another few months, albeit Rangers’ hand has been forced by their inability to snare a potential replacement. Liverpool blocked their approach for Owen Beck, Kai Wagner stayed on at Philadelphia Union, David Jurasek left Benfica for Hoffenheim, and the aforementioned Doig is now a Sassuolo player.
“There’s not been talks around that (Ridvan leaving),” Clement said. “We had our individual talk like with all the players in training camp. With Ridvan it was clearly a good talk because afterwards he played. So we will see.
“I know January transfer market. It’s always special, and you need to be prepared for everything and that’s what we’re going to do.”
“Yeah, clearly (Yilmaz has the right attitude). OK, you don’t know me that long maybe but ,if he was not committed, he would never have played against Hertha or against Copenhagen (in the recent friendly clashes).
“So, no, he’s committed to the club and what he has to do here, everything, training. Otherwise, (he) will never come on the pitch.”
