‘Compare me to Mbappe’: £22m ace opens door to Tottenham move
Tottenham Hotspur icon Gareth Bale is possibly the most well-known example of a footballer who began in one position and then reached his full potential when moved to another section of the game.
From a struggling left-back to a world-class winger, he had success at Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid, and in the Champions League final against Liverpool. All of these classic moments may have been a pipe dream if Harry Redknapp hadn’t had the foresight to test the Welsh wizard farther up the pitch.
Meanwhile, a guy who may follow in Bale’s Tottenham footsteps may choose to move in the opposite direction.
HITC revealed in April that Aston Villa and Ange Postecoglou’s capital city side are among the fans of Galatasaray’s £22 million-rated speed machine Baris Alper Yilmaz.
One scout told HITC that Yilmaz’s adaptability and incredibly well-rounded skill set made him Turkey’s counterpart to Real Madrid utility player Federico Valverde. His dangerous pace and power have garnered parallels to the aforementioned Bale, Phil Foden, and Kylian Mbappe, to name a few.
Aston Villa and Tottenham in the Baris Alper Yilmaz race
“They usually compare me to Mbappe,” Yilmaz told TRT Spor. “(But) the biggest name I take as an example is Cristiano Ronaldo.”
Yilmaz made the majority of his 2023/24 appearances on the wing, often on the right but also on the left. The two-footed wideman concedes that his future may be as a full-back, but Yilmaz could’reverse Bale’ if he moves to England.
“Yes, I have dreams. “As a Turk, I want to represent my country abroad,” Yilmaz continues, paving the way for Aston Villa and Tottenham.
“I do not look into transfer issues at all. I’m focused on my work. My agency handles such matters. This is our job. If this occurs, appropriate action will be taken. (But) I enjoy watching the Premier League.
“If I’m going to play right-back, I study good right-backs.” And if I’m going to watch left-backs, I want to see good ones. We (at Galatasaray) also examined Alphonso Davies prior to the Bayern match.”
Yilmaz is reportedly admired by Manchester United, AFC Bournemouth, Brighton and Hove Albion, in addition to Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur. With seven goals and 12 assists from various positions, the Turkey international contributed significantly to Galatasaray’s triumph throughout a fantastic 2023/24 season.
Compared to Kylian Mbappe and Gareth Bale, Ozan Buruk’s team won the Super Lig title after surpassing Istanbul rivals Fenerbahce with a 100-point margin. Fenerbahce, keen to break a more-than-decade-long drought for domestic success, has appointed Jose Mourinho as manager.
Aston Villa may need to free up some finances before considering any big-money additions, with Unai Emery’s team among several under pressure from the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules.
HITC has been informed that Villa are determined to keep Ollie Watkins, Emiliano Martinez, and local star Jacob Ramsey. Offers for Douglas Luiz may be explored, however, as the Brazilian enters the last two years of his deal.
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