Kenny Miller thinks Ridvan Yilmaz will either solidify himself as the undisputed Rangers first choice left-back or cut that short and leave in the summer due to his good form.
The Turkish 22-year-old is a player transformed under manager Philippe Clement and has usurped Borna Barisic as the club’s main left-back at the moment.
Although Clement still favors rotating Yilmaz and Barisic, the former has played 90 minutes in nine of the previous 12 Rangers Scottish Premiership games (Transfermarkt), and he was added to the Europa League roster after first being left out.
Yilmaz, who was rumored to be on the verge of moving from Gers to Galatasaray in January, is obviously the player the Belgian prefers.
Speaking on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard, Miller admits that Yilmaz took some time to get used to the Ibrox giants, but he is already showing to be a valuable asset for Clement as the Rangers, who won the Viaplay Cup in December, are fighting on three fronts.
However, Miller thinks Yilmaz’s good form of late could potentially attract suitors in the summer and Rangers could end up recouping the £5m fee they paid Besiktas for the left-back in 2022.
Clement still tends to rotate Yilmaz and Barisic but the former has completed 90 minutes in nine of the last 12 Scottish Premiership matches for Rangers – as per Transfermarkt – and was brought into the Europa League squad after being left out initially.
So it is clear to see the Belgian favours Yilmaz, who was said to be close to leaving Gers for Galatasaray in January.
Miller, speaking on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard, acknowledges the fact Yilmaz took a long time to settle at the Ibrox giants but now, he is proving to be an asset for Clement as Rangers continue to fight on three fronts after winning the Viaplay Cup in December.
However, Miller thinks Yilmaz’s good form of late could potentially attract suitors in the summer and Rangers could end up recouping the £5m fee they paid Besiktas for the left-back in 2022.
Ridvan Yilmaz to stay or leave Rangers?
Kenny Miller said: “The game just after the Celtic game before the break, Kilmarnock on the 2 January, I think Philippe Clement said that was his (Ridvan’s) best performance.
“I was actually at the game watching it and I thought first-half he was probably the best player on the pitch to be honest. So he’s starting to build and it’s taken him a bit of time to settle because it did look like he was leaving in January.
“There’s two things to it. He’s either going to be the number one left-back if (Borna) Barisic leaves – who I think will actually play on Sunday – but anyway, Yilmaz is either going to establish himself as the number one (left-back) or that transfer value could be driven up.
“He’s performing to such a high level at this moment in time domestically and in Europe that, if anybody is looking at him, Rangers might get that transfer fee back that they paid for him which was quite a hefty fee at the time.”
