Turkish giants Beşiktaş are reportedly set to intensify their efforts this week to re-sign Rangers full-back Ridvan Yılmaz. The 24-year-old defender, who has struggled with injuries, making only 26 appearances last season, appears to be nearing an exit from Ibrox.
Yılmaz’s absence from Rangers’ crucial Champions League second-round qualifier against Panathinaikos, which saw the Scottish side take a 2-0 lead into tonight’s return leg in Athens, further fuels speculation of his departure.
Beşiktaş has been consistently linked with Yılmaz since the conclusion of last season. According to Turkish outlet KRT TV [per Daily Record], talks were temporarily paused until after Beşiktaş’s own Europa League second-round qualifier second leg against Shakhtar Donetsk. Beşiktaş currently trails the Ukrainian side 4-2 from the first leg and faces a challenging task in Thursday night’s clash.
Rangers Close in on Tottenham Teenager, Hagi’s Demands Revealed
In other Rangers transfer news, manager Russell Martin has already brought in seven new faces this summer and is reportedly on the cusp of securing an eighth. Rangers are said to be finalizing a loan deal for highly-rated Tottenham teenager Mikey Moore, with the 17-year-old expected to undergo a medical within the next 48 hours. Spurs’ new boss Thomas Frank is reportedly keen for the young talent to gain regular first-team experience.
Meanwhile, the financial demands for Ianis Hagi to join Legia Warsaw have been revealed. The Romanian international, a free agent after departing Rangers earlier this summer following a four-and-a-half-year spell, is a target for the Polish club, now managed by his former national team coach Edi Iordanescu.
Hagi has reportedly already turned down an initial approach from Legia. According to Arcadie Zaporojanu, who claims to represent the player, a £1 million signing-on fee is required to facilitate the move. Zaporojanu stated, “The situation with Legia Warsaw and Ianis is that I discussed his possible move just the other day with the owner of Legia. He just needs to put his hands in his pocket and it’s solved. The sum is £1 million when he signs.”
He further detailed previous discussions: “I was involved in these discussions even before Edi Iordănescu was appointed as manager there. I had discussed this transfer option with the owner. I proposed a certain financial option, which the owner initially did not accept. It was about giving him a significant amount upon signing and and a salary of £600,000 per year, so as not to disrupt his salary scale at the club.” Zaporojanu concluded that the deal “can be completed at any time.”
