Liverpool transfers: Galatasaray's Baris Alper Yilmaz a target says club chairman

Liverpool have been named as suitors for Turkey international Baris Alper Yilmaz, who won the Turkish Super Lig title with Galatasaray last season.  

Baris Alper, 24, is now a two-time title winner with the Istanbul giants and also impressed for his national team during Euro 2024. 

He played all five matches as Turkey made a run to the quarter-finals, with his tireless running and dribbling gaining him exposure to a wider audience. 

Premier League sides Arsenal, Aston Villa and Brighton - along with the Reds - have all been mentioned as interested in the forward, who signed a new Galatasaray contract in May 2023. 

His new terms extend until 2027 and it is expected that he will fetch up to €30 million in the transfer market. 

That is a long way off Galatasaray’s reported asking price of €50m with Nuri Sahin’s Borussia Dortmund also waiting in the wings with interest. 

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Yilmaz played 37 times for Gala last season as they clinched the title ahead of Fenerbahce, scoring six times and adding seven assists. 

He also featured six times in the Champions League group stage, including a memorable away win at Manchester United, where he grabbed an assist. 

The wide man joined Gala from Ankara Keciorengucu back in 2021 and has gone on to establish himself as a key part of both his club and national side. 

Baris Alper Yilmaz 'will be the face of Turkey'

As part of the €2.1m deal which took him from Ankara to Gala, the selling club negotiated a 20 percent sell-on clause which Galatasaray are now reportedly trying to buy out ahead of a potential sale. 

Club chairman Sedat Tahiroglu spoke to Turkish outlet AKSAM and revealed there is plenty of interest in his side’s former star. Dortmund lead the way for his signature but Liverpool and Arsenal are also regarded as potential suitors. 

"We have 20 percent of Baris Alper Yilmaz's share but Galatasaray has not requested a meeting with us on this issue,” he said. 

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“I hear Liverpool and Arsenal want him but I know Nuri Sahin definitely wants him. I don't think the price will be €50m. He can be sold for around €30m. 

“The path needs to be paved for young people for Turkish football. Hopefully he will make the decision that is good for him. The money is not important. The important thing is for Baris Alper to go to a team where he will be successful because he will be the face of Turkey."