Liverpool linked with €30m forward after coach urges move | OneFootball

Versatile €30m Forward Baris Alper Yilmaz Linked With Liverpool Move

Turkish star on Liverpool’s radar

Liverpool’s long-term attacking plans under Arne Slot may yet include a new name, as Galatasaray winger Baris Alper Yilmaz is once again being linked with a potential move to Anfield. According to a report by Haber Sari Kirmizi, the 25-year-old Turkish international has emerged as a player to watch over the next year.

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The report notes that although “Barış has no intention of leaving,” his manager Okan Buruk appears to have different thoughts on the matter. “Coach Okan told Barış, ‘Europe’s eyes are on Galatasaray right now… Instead of going to West Ham, go to Tottenham or Liverpool.’”

Yilmaz impresses with versatility

Yilmaz was instrumental in Galatasaray’s domestic double last season, finishing with 14 goals and six assists across all competitions. His ability to play on either wing has caught attention, particularly among clubs searching for flexibility and depth in wide areas.

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With Luis Diaz having already departed Liverpool this summer and question marks over Federico Chiesa and Ben Doak, space is being created in the squad for further additions. Yilmaz, who is valued at €30m and under contract until 2028, fits the mould of a Slot-type forward, high-energy, direct, and tactically versatile.

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Coach urges patience for bigger move

Galatasaray insider Ali Naci Küçük shared on SkySpor’s YouTube channel that Yilmaz is not pushing for a transfer at this stage. However, Okan Buruk’s advice to the player was pointed: “Instead of going to West Ham, go to Tottenham or Liverpool.”

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Yilmaz has been linked with Liverpool before. Following his strong performances at Euro 2024, Ankara Keciorengucu chairman Sedat Tahiroglu claimed the Reds, Arsenal, and Borussia Dortmund had all shown interest.

Given his contract situation and the sell-on clause owed to his former club, any deal would likely be carefully structured. But with Slot’s preference for adaptable attackers already evident in signings like Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, Yilmaz could emerge as a serious option in the next 12 months.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

Baris Alper Yilmaz looks a tidy player, no doubt. But the idea that Liverpool should seriously consider him right now raises a few concerns. Yes, his numbers are decent, and he plays with tenacity, but he is doing so in the Turkish Super Lig, a world apart from the demands of the Premier League.

The fact that his own manager is steering him towards Liverpool or Spurs and away from West Ham tells you there is some marketing at play here. “Europe’s eyes are on Galatasaray,” sounds more like a pitch than a proven fact.

Let’s not forget we’ve been here before. Every summer there’s a player with decent stats in a lesser league who gets linked to Anfield. Very few of them make the jump successfully. And while €30m may be manageable, the wage expectations and squad disruption should not be underestimated.

Right now, with Wirtz, Ekitike and possibly Alexander Isak in the mix, this feels like a stretch. One for the watchlist, not the shortlist.