Scott McDermott was baffled by Rangers’ decision to keep Ridvan Yilmaz after Keith Jackson quizzed the journalist on the Ibrox transfer news.
Besiktas made a last-ditch attempt to sign the Turkish full-back just hours before the UK deadline passed, submitting a loan-to-buy offer worth £830,000 which would include a mandatory £2.5million purchase clause [Yagiz Sabuncuoglu].
It is understood that both the Light Blues and the player turned the offer down, but with Turkey’s transfer window not closing until 11 February, Besiktas are still pushing for his signature [Haberturk].
Jackson told the Daily Record’s Hotline Live [3 February]: “Rangers have turned down a proposal for Ridvan Yilmaz. I believe it was a 1 million loan with an obligation to buy, followed by 3 million from Besiktas in the summer. Are you surprised by that?
McDermott responded, “Slightly.” Philippe Clement has stated in recent months that he wants to maintain Yilmaz. He will be paid well, although he is not the team’s first choice left-back. I’m a little surprised.
“The way Rangers are now working, trying to reconfigure the squad in terms of lowering the pay cost, Yilmaz is not first choice and has injury issues. He hasn’t been trustworthy since his arrival at Ibrox.
“For that kind of money on an obligation to buy, I thought they might have considered it.”
Did the Rangers miss a trick by keeping Ridvan Yilmaz?
Yilmaz is something of an enigma at Ibrox, at least during the winter transfer window, having been linked with a move elsewhere on numerous occasions.
The 23-year-old, who joined from Besiktas in July 2022, appeared to be ready to return to Turkey, but he is still in Glasgow after the UK deadline passed.
Yilmaz’s future has been the subject of much concern, but with the Gers currently thriving under Philippe Clement, even after a sad 2-1 loss to Manchester United, he has improved.
Injuries have been his deadliest enemy since joining the Light Blues, and even now that he is totally fit and blazing on all cylinders, Jefte is still favored over him at left-back.
He is often used higher forward against harder opponents and can have a decent influence in the final third, but many fans believe the club should have cashed in when the opportunity arose.
The Gers’ current financial status is the most solid, and while a single £3 million+ Ibrox exodus will not solve all of their financial woes, it would have set the tone for the summer window.
