Rangers have signed ‘high-potential and high-quality’ left-back Ridvan Yilmaz and raised hopes Alfredo Morelos will stay at the club.
Gers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst believes playing in a ‘demanding’ environment in Turkey will prepare the 21-year-old for life at Ibrox.
Yilmaz, who has six caps for Turkey, has joined the Light Blues on a five-year contract from Besiktas, where he played football.
The Turks revealed they would receive a guaranteed fee of £3.4million, with the total outlay potentially rising to £5.3million. They also negotiated a 20% sell-on clause.
Van Bronckhorst said: ‘I’m pleased to add Ridvan to our squad. I’ve been impressed with his development in a really demanding, winning environment at Besiktas over the last few seasons.’
Yilmaz added: ‘This is a club who have shown they can compete against some of the best teams in Europe and I am really excited by the challenges we have ahead of us.’
Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson added: ‘Gio and I were clear in our desire to invest in a high-potential and high-quality left-back. We have now secured Ridvan Yilmaz.’
Van Bronckhorst also raised hopes that striker Morelos will sign a new contract with Rangers.
Morelos, 26, is entering the final year of his deal and could agree a pre-contract with another club in January.
The Colombian has been linked with a host of clubs during his five years at Ibrox but van Bronckhorst is optimistic the hitman will sign an extension.
‘We’re doing our best to get Morelos signed to a new contract,’ the Gers manager said. ‘Hopefully in the coming weeks, we will sort it out. Still the talks are ongoing.’
Morelos has been out of action since late March and underwent thigh surgery in April but van Bronckhorst revealed he is nearing a comeback, although he will not be fit for the weekend league opener against Livingston.
Van Bronckhorst added: ‘He’s training with us, that’s a good sign.
‘He looks better and sharper every session so we’re monitoring his development really close in the coming weeks because when he’s fit, he’s one option for me up front as well.’
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