Report: Rangers reject bidders’ offer and demand £4 million for Ibrox “warrior,” which suitors cannot pay.

Philippe Clement himself described Rangers full-back Ridvan Yilmaz’s performances in early 2025 as a “pleasant surprise.”

Amid a defensive injury crisis that forced Clement to deploy players in unfamiliar roles—such as James Tavernier filling in at center-back and Ross McCausland operating as a full-back—Yilmaz found himself playing on the right side of Rangers’ defense for several matches. Ironically, this positional switch led to arguably the best performance of his Rangers career.

Yilmaz was exceptional in Rangers’ emphatic 3-0 victory over Celtic to kick off the New Year. He impressed not only in attack, registering the most shots of any player, but also in defense. While the injured Tavernier has struggled at times against Celtic’s relentless Daizen Maeda, Yilmaz firmly held his ground, nullifying the threat with an unwavering defensive display.

His increasing versatility—Clement even referred to him as a “warrior” after he played as a winger against Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League—has only enhanced his value to the team. As a result, the Turkey international has never been more crucial to Rangers, making Clement eager to retain him.

Rangers Set £4m Price Tag as Besiktas Show Interest

As is often the case in transfer windows, speculation about Yilmaz returning to Turkey has resurfaced, with reports in his homeland gaining momentum over the past couple of days.

Besiktas, the club that sold Yilmaz to Rangers two-and-a-half years ago for £3.4 million, are reportedly keen on bringing him back. However, with his contract running until 2027 and his importance growing at Ibrox, Rangers are in no rush to let him go, especially with key domestic and European fixtures ahead.

According to Turkish outlet Yeni Birlik, Rangers have placed a £4 million valuation on Yilmaz—a figure that poses a challenge for Besiktas. Now under the management of Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s dismissal, the Turkish club has a limited budget of just £2.5 million this month.

Unable to meet Rangers’ asking price outright before the Turkish transfer window closes on February 11, Besiktas are reportedly exploring alternative options. However, Rangers were unimpressed with an initial proposal involving a loan move with a purchase clause. The Scottish club has made it clear that any sale must include an immediate cash payment and a profit on their original £3.4 million investment.
Clement Confident Yilmaz Will Stay

Last week, Clement was quick to dismiss speculation about Yilmaz’s departure. The defender sparked rumors after sharing a photo of himself enjoying coffee in Istanbul, but his trip home was due to a minor injury that kept him out of Rangers’ 3-1 comeback victory over Dundee United.

“Ridvan has a small injury,” Clement clarified. “It’s nothing long-term. He wasn’t fit enough to play in this game.