Galatasaray star Baris Alper Yilmaz has been on Liverpool radar in recent weeks
Liverpool have received a fresh blow in their pursuit of Galatasaray forward Baris Alper Yilmaz after their president claimed that he is not for sale this summer.
Baris Alper Yilmaz has established himself as one of the most exciting wide players in Turkiye. Quick, strong and athletic, he contributed with seven goals and 12 assists in 55 appearances across all competitions as Galatasaray spectacularly won the Super Lig title this past season. So, he went into the Euro 2024 in some form.
The 24-year-old was one of the rare bright spots in Turkiye’s campaign at the Euro 2024 in Germany. He started all five games as Turkiye surprised the onlookers and reached the quarter-finals of the European championships before being dumped out by the Netherlands.
Yilmaz could view this as the perfect time to earn a big move away from Turkiye off the back of his fine performances at Euro 2024 in Germany, during which he gave a tough time to opposing defenders with his pace, intensity and strength. He has been linked with a move to Liverpool in the last couple of weeks, with star defender Virgil van Dijk giving a glowing endorsement of the Galatasaray man after facing him in the quarter-finals of the European Championships.
According to Turkish outlet Milliyet, the Reds have started working on a deal to bring Yilmaz to the Premier League. However, Galatasaray president Ibrahim Hatipoglu has insisted the player is not going anywhere this summer.
“Baris Alper Yilmaz is not for sale. There are offers for many players, including Baris. We reject some without thinking. Baris is one of them. Baris is not for sale,” Hatipoglu was quoted in an interview with CNN Turk.
The Galatasaray president’s latest comments on Yilmaz should come as a setback for Liverpool, who are understood to be trying to sign the Turkiye international amidst speculation surrounding the future of Luis Diaz. The Colombia international’s form dipped in the second half of the 2023/24 campaign but that hasn’t stopped the likes of Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain from taking an interest in him.
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Regardless of what happens with Diaz, we must bring in Yilmaz. The Turkiye international can operate anywhere across the frontline, which is certain to act as a huge plus for Arne Slot. He may not become an immediate starter at Liverpool but would go a long way in enhancing the depth of Slot’s squad.
It is a standard practice for top club officials to insist a certain player isn’t up for sale. Such things have happened countless times where a club official has claimed an ‘XYZ’ player will stay but eventually, he is sold. That being said, the Reds must try their best to get a deal for Yilmaz over the line as quickly as possible.
