Yusuf Kabadayi is the latest name exciting Rangers fans ahead of the transfer window.
The 20-year-old Bayern Munich winger might not have been on the radar of many before news broke in Germany surrounding Rangers’ interest.
But as the Rangers support starts loading up the obligatory YouTube clips, there is some excitement building around the attacker.
The story goes that Rangers are one of a number of clubs interested in signing Yusuf Kabadayi, with the German youth international returning to Bayern after a year at Schalke 04.
Now, the Gers-linked attacker’s Instagram activity has sent the rumour machine into overdrive after snaps showed the player, who has roots in Turkey, setting foot in the UK.
Kadabayi spotted in UK
In the social media age almost every footballer’s online activity is rigorously scrutinised but at Rangers, the slightest change rarely goes unnoticed.
The wrong comment or the wrong message can see a backlash whilst a link to Ibrox guarantees every transfer target picks up a host of new followers.
Yusuf Kabadayi is no different and the German winger’s latest post on Instagram has been picked up by Rangers supporters.
Whilst there is no way to verify if the images in the player’s latest post are current or not, only a day ago Kabadayi uploaded photos of himself in London.
Whilst the winger looks to have been enjoying a holiday at the end of the season, the attacker’s presence in the UK has not gone unnoticed.
Rangers are said to be one of a number of clubs looking at Yusuf Kadabayi, with nothing ruled out as the winger enters the final year of his contract at Bayern Munich.
It’s said a permanent switch was too expensive for Bundesliga 2 Shalke, with newly promoted St Pauli and Serie A side Lecce also strongly linked.
Rangers target has shades of Tillman
Rangers fans will note the similarities between interest in Yusuf Kabadayi and the deal that brought Malik Tillman to Ibrox.
Former Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson earned praise in Germany for striking a creative deal to bring the USA international talent to Glasgow in 2022.
Rangers benefited from a series of clauses inserted into the deal, whilst Bayern developed one of their top young talents.
Even if the Gers couldn’t bring Malik to Ibrox permanently, the club earned a financial boost from a buyback clause before Tillman made a loan move to PSV.
Having signed a new contract with Bayern before making that switch, the German giants are now set to bank around £12m from the player’s permanent sale to the Dutch champions.
As a result of Rangers’ role in the player’s development, the Ibrox side stand to benefit to the tune of around £1.2m.
Rangers could be hoping to strike a similar deal when it comes to Yusuf Kabadayi with the Malik Tillman situation certainly going in the Ibrox side’s favour.
One thing does appear clear; the German youth international will be on the move this summer with the particulars still to be thrashed out.
As Nils Koppen and Philippe Clement look to rebuild the Rangers squad, one suspects this won’t be the last time we hear the name Yusuf Kabadayi either.
