Turkish newspaper Fanatik claim Rangers are set to send struggling Ibrox star Ridvan Yilmaz back on loan to Besiktas in the summer – after the SuperLig giants approached the Gers over a move to sign Yilmaz ahead of the summer window.
Bought for £4.5million by Rangers in the summer, 21-year-old Yilmaz was expected to provide competition for starting left-back Borna Barisic. After seven games, he suffered a long-term hamstring injury. It kept him out for four months.
The six-time Turkey star made his return last weekend, coming on shortly after the hour mark in a 3-0 Scottish Cup win over Raith Rovers. He is now fit and will be looking to regain his match sharpness over the next few weeks at Rangers.
But, he will remain Barisic’s back-up. Michael Beale recently said that Barisic had been his side’s strongest player of late in terms of consistency. Indeed, it might be the best way to get him game time is a loan back to his old side Besiktas.
The report from Fanatik states that Besiktas have made a loan move. They have been in contact with Rangers and the Ibrox club are willing to let him go on loan next season, free of charge, or any permanent clauses – in the summer.
Rangers set to send Yilmaz back on loan to Besiktas in the summer
Rangers will now want to lose their back-up option to Barisic, with the Croatia star no stranger to injuries himself. This weekend, Yilmaz could get a start with Barisic and his wife expecting their first child. But, Yilmaz needs regular games.
If he is to recover the form that saw Rangers spend north of £4million to sign him, then he needs minutes. The kind of form that saw him have a hand in 11 goals during 62 Besiktas games from left-back – and earn six senior Turkey caps.
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