Report: Europa League rivals open talks to bring £3.5m Rangers ace back to former club
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There are a handful of Rangers players who, no matter how many games they play, seem destined always to divide opinion.
Cyriel Dessers is on track to become Rangers’ top scorer for a second straight campaign – the Ibrox number nine took his tally to 18 this term as Dessers’ ‘sensational’ finish stunned Manchester United on Thursday night – but there are still large sections of the fanbase who see him as more of a hindrance than a help.
Robin Propper, meanwhile, has produced stand-out displays against Celtic and Man United but has often been found wanting against far inferior opposition.
And, despite CEO Patrick Stewart tipping Jefte and Nedim Bajrami for a breakout 2025, below-par displays at Old Trafford served only to kick-start the debate around two of last summer’s acquisitions.
As for Ridvan Yilmaz, the £3.5 million addition from Besiktas continues to flip from all-action one day to error-prone the next.
Besiktas open talks to bring Rangers’ Ridvan Yilmaz back to Turkey
Ridvan Yilmaz was brilliant up against Daizen Maeda as Rangers hammered Celtic in their first outing of 2025. He would then struggle badly at Dundee only days later.
That has been the story of his Gers career, really, even if any criticism should be tempered by the fact Yilmaz has spent much of the last few weeks playing out of position on the right or further forward on the wing.
Yet, with Besiktas reportedly stepping up their attempts to bring Yilmaz back to the Vodafone Arena, Rangers’ faith in their talented but inconsistent full-back may be tested as deadline day approaches.
According to Turkish publication Star, Besiktas are planning to replace former West Ham defender Arthur Masuaku.
The Super Lig giants have reportedly opened talks with Rangers too – a first meeting took place between the two clubs – though Yilmaz will only be permitted to return home this month if a transfer fee is provided.
There will be no loan deals. Not even a loan-to-buy arrangement, it seems.
Philippe Clement has praised Yilmaz’s versatility during Ibrox injury crisis
Still only 23, Yilmaz rose through the ranks at Besiktas. He won a Super Lig title and the Turkish cup before swapping Istanbul for Ibrox back in 2022.
After a slow start, Yilmaz has arguably never been more important to the Rangers cause, Clement paying tribute to a footballer who has shown the mentality, if maybe not always the ability, to adapt seamlessly to a number of different positions.
"In all the clubs in the world, you can get really positive surprises, and I count on that moment,” Clement said this month. “Like Ridvan was a really positive surprise as a right full-back, for example.”
When all are fit and available, Yilmaz is unlikely to be a starter in Clement’s preferred XI. He remains something of a square peg in a round hole on the right while Jefte is clearly now Rangers’ first-choice on the left flank.
Yet, with injuries limiting Rangers’ options and with so many games to come both in domestic and continental competition, letting a useful, highly versatile member of the squad leave mid-season feels like a risk simply not worth taking.
Especially to a Besiktas side who Rangers may yet find themselves competing against in the Europa League later down the line.
