Liverpool hold the edge in the race to land Baris Alper Yilmaz
Liverpool are leading the race to sign Galatasaray’s Baris Alper Yilmaz for a fee of £25.2 million. The Merseyside club is keen on securing the services of the 24-year-old winger, who has also attracted interest from Premier League rivals Arsenal.
Liverpool have already submitted a bid matching Galatasaray’s valuation of the player. Despite interest from Bundesliga sides such as Borussia Dortmund, Eintracht Frankfurt, and RB Leipzig, the German clubs have not shown concrete interest, as confirmed by Christian Falk of BILD Group via Caught Offside.
He confirms that the Reds have little to worry about the Bundesliga trio. Dortmund are keen but it’s far from concrete at this moment in time. Frankfurt and Leipzig are further behind and are currently playing catch up. Should the Reds make their move, they will find themselves in a good position to get the deal over the line.
A dynamic attacker, Yılmaz has been compared to Welsh superstar Gareth Bale, a sentiment echoed by Kayserispor coach Ilker Puren. The winger’s impressive performances and potential have caught the eye of top European clubs. At 24 years old, he fits the profile that Liverpool’s recruitment team prefers: young, talented, and with significant room for growth.
A transfer fee of £25.2 million appears to be an ideal investment for Liverpool, given Yılmaz’s age and the potential return on investment. His versatility and attacking prowess make him a valuable asset for any top club. However, the Reds already have Mohamed Salah on the right flank, and the Turkish star is likely to be the Egyptian’s understudy at best.
One potential challenge in signing Yılmaz is his right-footedness, which contrasts with Salah’s left-footed dominance on the right wing. How this inclined with the way Arne Slot envisions his side’s setup remains to be seen.
Alternative targets like PSV Eindhoven’s Johan Bakayoko and Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo, both left-footed, might be more suitable options for Liverpool. These players could provide the desired competition and balance on the right wing, aligning better with the team’s tactical requirements.
However, Yilmaz’s price makes him an attractive option. While it is a bit rich to compare Yilmaz to Bale, there is little doubt that the Turkish international is a largely reliable player on his day. Whether he is an upgrade on what we already have is debatable.
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Yılmaz presents an exciting prospect for Liverpool but the club must carefully evaluate whether he is the best fit for their tactical setup. With the ability to operate anywhere across the front line, Yilmaz could provide depth and different tactical options. However, the decision will depend on how well Yılmaz can adapt to Liverpool’s playing style and Slot’s vision for the team.
