Celtic’s loss could be Rangers’ gain with £6m deal reportedly close

Photo by Gokhan Balci/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Rangers are closing in on Ridvan Yilmaz and Besiktas could reportedly bring the Celtic-linked Mohanad Jeahze to Turkey as the left-back’s replacement, as reported by Fotomac. 

The third time, they say, is often the charm. And it certainly was for Rangers, agreeing a £6 million deal for Yilmaz after seeing their first two birds turned down by the 2021 Super Lig champions (TRT Sport). 

Yilmaz, a 21-year-old Turkey international, arrives to fill a Calvin Bassey-shaped void in Rangers’ squad. He will also provide renewed competition for the inconsistent Borna Barisic on the left-hand flank. 

“It’s well stated in the press,” Giovanni van Bronckhorst said over the weekend amid claims that Yilmaz has turned down Bundesliga and Serie A clubs in order to join Tom Lawrence, Ben Davies, Rabbi Matondo and Antonio Colak in Glasgow.  

“I won’t lie, we hope we add a new player in the coming days. The player coming in is young. And hopefully a player we can develop the same way as Calvin, who is a good example, and (fellow full-back) Nathan Patterson.” 

And it seems that Jeahze could be to Besiktas what Yilmaz is to Rangers; The man head-hunted to replace one of Europe’s most exciting young left-backs.  

Rangers’ gain may be Celtic’s loss

Photo by Elif Ozturk Ozgoncu/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

According to Fotomac, Besiktas are in talks to bring Jeahze – the Hammarby defender heavily linked with a move to Rangers’ Old Firm rivals throughout the summer – to Istanbul. What’s more, the Iran international is keen on the idea of joining a Besiktas side who have already added Wout Weghorst, Cenk Tosun and Romain Saiss to their ranks in the off-season. 

If things had worked out differently, Jeahze and Yilmaz could both be preparing for life in the Scottish Premiership right about now. 

Celtic held talks with the former at the start of the window. That was, before turning their attention to Alexandro Bernabei instead, as reported by The Athletic.  

“You simply have to accept it. (The offers) may not have been enough,” Jeahze reflected after missing out on a potential £2 million move to Parkhead. 

“I have patience. Maybe something else will come this summer. It is clear that I want to go abroad at some point. Everyone has a dream of trying something new.” 

Patience, as the phrase goes, is a virtue. But Jeahze might not have to wait much longer. 

Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images
The post Celtic’s loss could be Rangers’ gain with £6m deal reportedly close appeared first on Ladunblog.