According to a report in the Turkish media, Rangers defender Rıdvan Yılmaz is on the cusp of joining Besiktas.
Earlier today, we discussed reports that the Super Lig club were working to finalize a deal for the Rangers left-back, whose future under Russell Martin remains uncertain.
Sports Digitale cited claims from Aspor journalist Kartal Yiğit, who states the Rangers player will arrive in Istanbul in the coming days.
Yiğit reports that Besiktas sporting director Serdal Adalı has informed him the club have secured an agreement to sign Yılmaz, with the transfer set to be completed soon.
There are no details on the transfer fee agreed between the two clubs, though earlier reports suggested the Ibrox side are seeking €5m. Previous reports indicated Besiktas were only interested in a loan for their former player.
With the arrival of Max Aarons, Yılmaz has been linked with a return to Istanbul over the past week. He was absent from the matchday squad for the draw at Motherwell, with Aarons starting at left-back.
A potential transfer for Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers to AEK Athens has faced further uncertainty after it was revealed that the Greek club are nearing a deal for AC Milan forward Luka Jović.
The Nigerian striker has been strongly linked with a move to the Super League giants throughout the summer, with reports suggesting the 30-year-old had ‘verbally agreed’ on personal terms for a move to OPAP Arena, though negotiations stalled when the two clubs couldn’t agree on the player’s valuation.
Rangers head coach Russell Martin spoke candidly about Dessers’ future during his critical post-match interview after the 1-1 draw against Motherwell at the weekend, saying:
“Cyriel is the only one that we’ve actually had a bid for, and he comes on and he runs so hard,” following their opening day draw.
“He’s not ready to start because he had an injury and he’s trained late, and then he comes on for two games and runs like a beast and gets on with it because he’s a good professional, a good human being.”
Despite praise from his head coach, speculation about a summer exit has continued to overshadow the striker’s start to the season.
However, the imminent arrival of Jović could now impact AEK Athens’ pursuit of Dessers, with his departure from Rangers likely in question once the AC Milan star confirms his move to the Greek Super League.
The addition of the Serbian international, who has scored 10 goals for his country, means Énosi could now rely on any of Aboubakary Koïta, Anthony Martial, Zini, or Jović in their attacking lineup, potentially casting serious doubt on their pursuit of the Rangers number nine.
According to a report from transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, 27-year-old Jović is set to sign a contract in the Greek capital until 2027, with Marko Nikolić’s side fending off competition from Real Oviedo for the Serbian international over the weekend. He is expected in Athens soon to complete the transfer.
The Scottish Premiership’s top scorer last season with 18 goals, Dessers has experienced a turbulent two-year spell at Ibrox following his move from Cremonese in the summer of 2023.
Despite scoring over 50 goals for the club, his time at Rangers has divided fans, who have fluctuated between admiration and frustration, sparking debates about whether the club should choose to sell Dessers this summer and reinvest in the squad, and AEK Athens’ subsequent interest.