The president of Turkish side Ankara Keçiörengücü has claimed Arsenal and Liverpool will rival Borussia Dortmund to sign Baris Alper Yilmaz this summer.
Yilmaz starred during Turkey’s run to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 and clubs across Europe have taken note of the versatile forward’s performances. The 24-year-old played for Ankara Keçiörengücü before his move to Galatasaray in 2021, and the second-tier side inserted a sell-on clause in that deal.
Sedat Tahiroglu, the president of Ankara Keçiörengücü, has revealed that he has been informed that Arsenal and Liverpool are monitoring Yilmaz, alongside German side Borussia Dortmund.
He outlined his hope that the forward, who scored seven goals as Galatasaray won the Turkish Süper Lig with a record points total last season, can earn a high-profile move and become the face of football in Turkey.
“We have 20% of Baris Alper Yilmaz’s share but Galatasaray has not requested a meeting with us on that issue. I hear Liverpool and Arsenal want him but I know Nuri Sahin (Dortmund manager) definitely wants him,” Tahiroglu told Aksam.
“He can be sold for around €30m (£25.3m). The path needs to be paved for young people for Turkish football. Hopefully he will make a decision that is good for him.
“The money is not important. The important thing is for Brasi Alper to go to a team where he will be successful because he will be the face of Turkey.”
Galatasaray value Yilmaz at €30m (£25.3m) and the forward is comfortable in a number of roles. Last season, the all-action star featured in both full-back positions, on either flank, and at centre-forward for the Turkish champions.
