“Journalist ‘Wee Bit Surprised’ by Rangers Transfer Decision Following Keith Jackson’s Remarks”

Rangers Reject Besiktas’ Late Bid for Ridvan Yilmaz

Besiktas made a last-minute attempt to sign Turkish full-back Ridvan Yilmaz just hours before the UK transfer deadline, submitting a loan-to-buy offer worth £830,000, with a mandatory £2.5 million purchase clause [Yagiz Sabuncuoglu].

Both Rangers and Yilmaz rejected the offer, but with Turkey’s transfer window open until 11 February, Besiktas are still pushing to secure the deal [Haberturk].

Speaking on Daily Record’s Hotline Live (3 February), journalist Jackson stated:

“Rangers have turned down a bid for Ridvan Yilmaz. The offer included a £1 million loan fee and a £3 million obligation to buy in the summer. Are you surprised?”

McDermott responded:

“A little. Philippe Clement has made it clear he wants to keep Yilmaz. He’s on a decent wage but isn’t the first-choice left-back.

Given Rangers’ efforts to reshape the squad and cut the wage bill, I thought they might have considered it.

Since arriving at Ibrox, Yilmaz has struggled with injuries and hasn’t been reliable. Given the financial aspect, the club may have missed an opportunity.”

Did Rangers Make the Right Decision?

Yilmaz has been somewhat of a mystery at Ibrox, especially during this transfer window, with constant speculation about his departure.

A return to Turkey seemed likely for the 23-year-old, who joined Rangers from Besiktas in July 2022, but after the UK deadline passed, he remains in Glasgow.

Despite ongoing rumors, Rangers have been performing well under Philippe Clement. Even after their painful 2-1 loss to Manchester United, Yilmaz has shown signs of improvement.

Injuries have been his biggest setback since joining the club, and even though he is now fully fit, Jefte remains the preferred choice at left-back.

Against stronger opposition, Yilmaz is sometimes deployed further forward, where he can make an impact in the final third.

However, many fans feel the club should have accepted the offer while they had the chance.

Rangers’ financial situation is currently stable, and while selling Yilmaz for £3 million wouldn’t have solved all their financial issues, it could have set a precedent ahead of the summer transfer window.

Whether rejecting Besiktas’ bid was the right call remains to be seen, but with the Turkish window still open, the saga might not be over just yet.