Michael Kenrick 02/08/2026 58comments  |  Jump to last

Barış Alper Yilmaz holds off Mark McKenzie of USA at the World Cup last month
(Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

Early August and the tantalisingly irritating rattle of the transfer window continues unabated: Who's next? — is the anguished cry of weary yet unsatiated observers.

When reason goes out the window, desperation fills the commentary sections, and every wide player in the Süper Lig is suddenly "on the verge of a sensational Premier League move."

The latest name to be fed into the endless Turkish media rumour generator —and promptly recycled across Everton social media channels and clickbait sites eager for more — is Galatasaray’s Barış Alper Yılmaz.

Naturally, the speculation reached fever pitch over the weekend when resident insider Alan Myers posted one of his trademark, bulletproof non-updates on X (formerly Twitter):

"I’m told there is some truth in the Yilmaz from Galatasaray links, not sure how big the interest is"

Ah, classic Alan. Master of the unfalsifiable transfer claim. It is a masterclass in hedging your bets: there might be interest, or there might just be an agent dropping Everton's name into a Turkish radio interview to squeeze an extra €10k a week out of Galatasaray. If Yilmaz signs, Alan called it; if he stays in Istanbul or joins Monaco, well, Alan did warn us he wasn't sure "how big the interest was."

The Reality Check

Let’s strip away the YouTube compilation music and look at the actual mechanics of this setup:

  1. The Price Tag: Galatasaray are reportedly holding out for upwards of £35M–£40M for the 26-year-old. Unless Farhad Moshiri left a suitcase of unallocated cash under a radiator at Finch Farm, Everton do not simply have £40M lying around to gamble on a player with zero Premier League experience.

  2. The Turkish Transfer Circus: We have been down this road a dozen times before. Every summer, Everton are supposedly "negotiating in Istanbul" for a winger whose agent is merely using our name as leverage. Remember Oumar Niasse? Cenk Tosun? The Süper Lig to Premier League pipeline is littered with cautionary tales, yet every window we act like we’ve discovered the next Ribéry.

  3. The Tactical Fit: Yilmaz is, by all accounts, an energetic, direct running-back-cum-winger whose primary asset is running very fast into channel space. While the squad desperately needs pace and width, paying top-dollar marquee money for a player who recorded 12 goals in 49 appearances in a dominant Turkish side feels like a classic case of paying for potential that won't translate to a rainy Tuesday night in the Premier League.

The Verdict

Could Everton have made a polite inquiry to Yilmaz’s representatives? Sure. Is there "some truth" that his name is on a long list of 50 wide targets somewhere in David Moyes’s famous wallchart? Almost certainly.

But until you see the lad holding up a blue jersey, treat this with the heavy dose of cynicism it deserves. Alan’s tweet isn't confirmation of an impending bid — it’s just a reminder that when it comes to Everton's transfer strategy, "interest" is cheap, but actual signings are painfully hard to come by.

Save your enthusiasm for when the ink is dry.

For those curious to see what all the fuss is about before the inevitable breakdown in negotiations, check out Barış Alper Yılmaz – Explosive Winger. This compilation highlights his direct running style and pace, which could explain why his agent is using Premier League links to inflate his market value.

 

Reader Comments (58)

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Paul Hewitt
1 Posted 02/08/2026 at 08:29:41
Now this is more like it.
James Newcombe
2 Posted 02/08/2026 at 09:10:34
He even looks bad on YouTube, I guess we’ll just have to trust the judgement of our brilliant scouting team on this one…
Bob Parrington
3 Posted 02/08/2026 at 09:15:01
We need a striker and rid ourselves of Barry and maybe Beto. Both seem to have 3 legs and don't know which way to go. FFS let's find a striker worth his weight and a RB too.
John Pickles
4 Posted 02/08/2026 at 09:59:40
If you want a genuine Rolex, you don't go shopping in Turkey!

True in life, true in football.
Christy Ring
5 Posted 02/08/2026 at 13:53:21
Our last Turk was Tosun, didn't big Dunc even say in his book, he told the club not to buy him.

I see where Bournemouth have bought the Seville right-back Sanchez for €9.5M, he's 22 and four senior caps for Spain. How many fullbacks have we looked at? Great to have a good scouting team.
John Collins
6 Posted 02/08/2026 at 13:57:53
Another one to add to the list of non-available right-backs in world football.

A laughable comment posted by a few...
Dale Self
7 Posted 02/08/2026 at 14:32:20
Juanlu Sanchez was likely a good miss, Christy.

I saw two of his matches. In both, he attempted to con the ref with the most pathetic, 'Oh, that player slapped my face so hard I collapsed' crap, twice. In one, there was slight contact on shoulder, the other with no contact at all.

And he did nothing else on the pitch to make one forget about his penchant for drama.

I was impressed with accounts if his play but the real thing was a disappointment.

Regarding this one, let's just listen to old Erkin Koray and Baris Manco records and let that be our Turkish experience.
Paul Kossoff
8 Posted 02/08/2026 at 15:46:47
Bournemouth are finalising an £11.1M move for Sevilla right-back Juanlu as new manager Marco Rose's squad nears completion.

The 22-year-old will cost an initial £9.4M, with a further £1.7M in add-ons, and is expected to move to the south coast on a long-term contract.

Juanlu is a tall, attacking full-back with significant experience despite his young age and has been heavily capped at Spanish youth level.

Mr Moyes and crack recruitment team: right-backs are available, just fucking look!!!
Paul Kossoff
9 Posted 02/08/2026 at 15:55:52
Bournemouth are finalising a deal for Portugal defender Antonio Silva.

Silva says he is excited to join Bournemouth after signing for the Cherries in a deal worth up to £25.7M. The 22-year-old joins from Benfica where he has been a regular since breaking into the first team in 2022 and has featured in the Champions League, Europa League and Club World Cup.

Mr Moyes and crack recruitment team, right-backs are available, just fucking look!!!🥺
Paul Kossoff
10 Posted 02/08/2026 at 16:08:54
I know Antonio Silva isn't a full back, but I'm just trying to say, how ridiculous our situation of recruitment is with our "crack" recruitment team.

Everyone and their grannies are having no problem finding players and reaching behind the couch to pay for them.

I'm worried for this season. Top ten finish? I just hope we stay above 17th.
Christy Ring
11 Posted 02/08/2026 at 17:02:35
Thanks Dale #7 I trust your judgement 👍
Mark Steers
12 Posted 02/08/2026 at 18:50:43
Typical Christy rubbish @5. You supported the worst right back in the last 4 seasons to the hilt. Now, you're blaming the scouts!\

Coleman has caused all these right-back problems yet you blame the scouting??? Pure rubbish.
Dale Self
13 Posted 02/08/2026 at 19:19:24
Christy, we will see if there is a player there at Bournemouth. To me, he just didn't look the Everton type at all. If he struggled or lagged a bit, the crowd would be all over him and it would be a dramafest.

Marco Rose is an outstanding manager. So I suspect Sanchez will have the support and structure to make good use of his strengths. Here, I wouldn't be sure it would work out.
Robert Williams
14 Posted 02/08/2026 at 19:35:06
Give it to the lad, he knows how to chuck himself to the ground. But I thought we already have one of those lined up - some fellow by the name of Grealish.

Surely we don't need two, otherwise there will be 30 minutes of extra time each half!!
Phil Malone Jnr
15 Posted 02/08/2026 at 20:38:17
Watching Galatasaray v Rennes, Yilmaz is on the bench.

We've apparently got people there watching, they've just made about 6 subs in the 73rd minute and not brought him on, lol!
Brendan McLaughlin
16 Posted 02/08/2026 at 20:43:52
Phil #15

Maybe they don't want to risk him getting injured ahead of the impending transfer?
Paul Kossoff
18 Posted 02/08/2026 at 00:11:09
Atletico Madrid are considering a move for Manchester City winger Jack Grealish, with Everton and Aston Villa also exploring a bid for the 30-year-old Englishman.
Paul Griffiths
20 Posted 03/08/2026 at 02:46:29
Atletico Madrid are considering a move for Manchester City winger Jack Grealish

Thank Sheedy. May it be true.
Steve Brown
21 Posted 03/08/2026 at 06:12:52
£11.1M for Juanlu from Sevilla and we are considering a £15M bid for Johnston from Celtic.

At this point, embarrassed laughter is the best way to look at it.
Michael Kenrick
22 Posted 03/08/2026 at 15:28:36
Seems Galatasaray may be looking for as much as £50M and Everton are offering more like £35M.

Not likely to happen at that price, methinks.
Mike Gaynes
24 Posted 03/08/2026 at 17:13:28
Just noticed this one...

"Coleman has caused all these right-back problems."

I cannot wait to read Mark's headline on this breaking story.

Club Legend Gets Old, Found Responsible for Failure to Replace Himself.
Mark Murphy
25 Posted 03/08/2026 at 17:17:03
Yilmaz is a winger isn't he?

Not sure why our best right-back in recent history has been brought back into the conversation? But as he has, I wish there was a young Seamus out there for us to find.
Mark Steers
26 Posted 03/08/2026 at 17:27:21
In recent history... my oh my, Mark. This is why we're in a bad state at right-back -- because Coleman has no recent history.

On ToffeeWwb, people are having a go at Mykolenko, who turns up, week-in & week-out. He might not be Van den Hauwe but he earns his corn.

I was the one who lambasted Coleman for his non-participation for nearly 4 years. Yet no one had a go at him for letting his teammates down.

Mark, Coleman was Everton club captain and never led his team out in any Premier League game at the Hill Dickinson Stadium... Wow!
Mike Gaynes
27 Posted 03/08/2026 at 17:30:53
Steve #21, I was sick when I saw the headlines about Juanlu, since I've been bigging him up for 2 years now.

But there's something strange about that situation. Reportedly his team told everybody last summer that he only wanted to go to Napoli and rejected all approaches from the Premier League, including ours.

Yet a year ago, Sevilla rejected a bid from Napoli for €20M -- and that's half again higher than what Bournemouth is reported to be paying now.

Apparently he had a miserable season -- 0 goals, 3 assists -- and lost his starting job and even his place in the squad at the end.

Something went wrong.
Darren Hind
28 Posted 03/08/2026 at 17:34:32
A "club Legend"... "Our best right-back in recent history".... Sigh.

And they wonder why... Nah, it doesn't matter.
Brian Wilkinson
29 Posted 03/08/2026 at 17:56:24
What's your problem with Coleman, Darren? What other right-back have we had in recent history that can compare to Coleman?

Young, Holgate, some may say Tony Hibbert, but for me, Coleman has been solid at right-back apart from the last couple of seasons, when injuries hit and his legs went.

I have to agree with Mike and Mark, a classy right-back was Coleman.
Mike Gaynes
30 Posted 03/08/2026 at 17:58:36
Recent history he said, Darren. Recent.

You just gotta play those games with other people's words, don't ya? Like your hero Holgate, you can't ever play it straight.

Ah, good (belated) correction to add the proper word.

So, in recent history, who's been better? (Aside from Mason, of course.)
Darren Hind
31 Posted 03/08/2026 at 18:05:46
You mean you read it properly, Mike.
Mark Murphy
32 Posted 03/08/2026 at 18:06:07
Ahh, sorry. Maybe I should've spelled 'recent' in capital letters. Or maybe wrote: "One of the best right backs in our history."

Still not sure what someone who's no longer at the club has to do with a Turkish right winger though and why he would exercise some people so much even though he's gone?
Mark Murphy
33 Posted 03/08/2026 at 18:07:44
But sorry, I've been dragged in now.

Mason Holgate, Mike??? Seriously????
John Collins
34 Posted 03/08/2026 at 18:13:00
Who was the best Everton right-back in the last 20 years?
Mike Gaynes
35 Posted 03/08/2026 at 18:22:46
Murph #33, no, not seriously. The farthest thing from seriously.

I made my utter contempt for Holgate clear over a period of years.

Darren used to defend his blunders as hustle plays. I'm just teasing him a bit.
Mark Murphy
36 Posted 03/08/2026 at 18:26:08
Mike, phew -- you had me for a minute!

John - Seamus Coleman is, in my opinion, the best right-back we've had since Shagger.
John Collins
37 Posted 03/08/2026 at 18:27:02
You wont get many arguments there, Mark.
Mike Gaynes
38 Posted 03/08/2026 at 18:28:40
Shagger? Nickname for Stevens?
Brian Wilkinson
39 Posted 03/08/2026 at 18:32:58
Anyway, back to the player in question, we got stung with Tosun.

Hard to remember any decent Turkish players.... I'm a bit hesitant myself being linked with a Turkish player, always overpriced and in return they expect to take players on loan rather than buy.

There must be other options out there.
Darren Hind
40 Posted 03/08/2026 at 18:39:34
Mike,

Ashley Young played 63 games for Everton during the darkest of fights, while Seamus Coleman simply stole a living.

Although he was older, he played more -- about 50 more -- and he scored more. Throughout his career, Ashley was asked to play for richer clubs -- Seamus wasn't. He won Leagues, cups (domestic and abroad); Seamus won the sum total of fuck-all.

While Young was winning stuff at rich clubs, Coleman was accumulating the worst record of any player ever at their grounds.

Yeah, he was able to hang on to the right-back birth for around a decade, but Everton were as reluctant to pay for right-backs then as they are now. He had no competition.

"Legend"? You haven't been around long enough to see an Everton legend.
Darren Hind
41 Posted 03/08/2026 at 18:52:53
On the subject of Holgate...

He was undoubtedly one of the brightest young players we have had in years. Man City were sniffing, so Carlo Ancelotti cut them off at the pass.

He gave him a massive 5-year contract, telling Evertonians that he has a great future and will be Everton's captain for years to come.

What happened to Holgate was a mystery to everyone. Too much, too young? Whatever it was, he fell over the same mountain as Jack Rodwell. His head went and he never got even close to recovering.

Mike Gaynes didn't know what Carlo had said, or that he had given him the crazy contract, so he spent years venting his anger at a totally disinterested Holgate... while steadfastly maintaining Carlo was a magician.

Another history lesson on me, Mike. I'm going to have to start invoicing you.
Mike Gaynes
42 Posted 03/08/2026 at 19:28:04
Darren, highest respect for Ashley Young, he was an absolute hero in the games he gave us in the twilight of his career, and I consider him a major reason we stayed up.

Seamus made 435 appearances for us. Best right-back I've seen in 40 years as a Blue. Used every ounce of his talent and honoured the badge and the armband every moment he was on the pitch. Legend for me. And for every manager he played for and most of the fans.

What happened to Holgate is no mystery. Talented, gifted player with the learning curve of a buffalo. Lazy blunder machine with an attitude. Failed everywhere he's been since us, even Jamaica (he was so awful that McClaren punted him after only a few games).

Holgate finally found a job in Qatar, the world's 76th-ranked domestic league. Yep, Carlo saw his potential in that one season and gave him the 5-year contract, and Holgate choked on it and spat it out. Even great managers get it wrong sometimes (Mancini signed Rodwell).

In retrospect, I think the only thing that could have fixed Holgate would have been if Richarlison had been permitted to beat the crap out of him after the Man City game, but Carlo broke it up.

And you were still cheering him 2 years later. How's that for a history lesson?

But thanks for the offer. You've never invoiced anybody, have you? I'll be happy to show you how.
Darren Hind
43 Posted 03/08/2026 at 19:35:23
Mike.

Carlo called it a brilliant bit of business.

"I did not know Mason before I came here. I was surprised by him. He showed in this period a lot of quality. He has the quality to go right to the top as a defender.

"He is fast. Strong physically and good with his head. He's a competent defender. He has made no mistakes in the games. Nothing serious. If he stays focused, he can go to the top. I think he's going to have a fantastic career."

Well. There you have it. The guy who has managed and played with some of the all-time great defenders, explaining to the Mikes of this world what a talent Holgate was.

I don't think there is any doubt that Holgate lost his head, his desire and his focus. His head was wrecked. But who wrecked it? I blame the man who gave him the biggest pay rise this club had ever known and told him he was going to be a shoo-in for years to come.

Don't argue with me. Take it up with the "Professor"!
Annika Herbert
44 Posted 03/08/2026 at 22:02:52
Best right back in 40 years Mike? So you don't rate Gary Stevens then? For me, Stevens was head and shoulders above Coleman.

Not that I don't rate Coleman, I always thought he was very good for Everton too. Just not on Stevens's level
Mark Murphy
45 Posted 03/08/2026 at 22:17:43
Annika, Gary left us for Rangers in 88 that's 38 years ago, almost 40. I know! Arghhh!!!

I'm willing to bet Mike just rounded it up and does not really believe that Seamus was better, or he would've said 50 years if he meant to include shagger in the equation.

But I don't know - maybe he does. Personally I reckon we'd still have won those titles if Seamus was our right-back, back then, in my opinion, that is.
John Collins
46 Posted 03/08/2026 at 22:40:24
Young did a decent job for us.

I reckon you would be looking over 90% in a poll of Blues, in favour of Seamus Coleman.
Mike Gaynes
47 Posted 03/08/2026 at 22:46:47
Unfortunately I have almost no memories of Stevens. Wish I did.

Back in the '80s we only got one live First Division game a week on US TV, and it was rarely Everton. And on the occasions they were on, I couldn't take my eyes off the miniscule images of my favorites: Sheeds, Reidy and Trevor Steven.
Brian Wilkinson
48 Posted 03/08/2026 at 23:33:06
Was a belter for sure Gary Stevens, best right-back I've seen at Everton.

But I missed Ray WIlson, I only managed to start going the games from 1974 onwards so I can only comment on who I have seen play.

For me, Gary Stevens and Seamus Coleman are the best two right-backs I've seen in an Everton shirt... although John Gidman was decent as well.
Sean Herbert
49 Posted 04/08/2026 at 02:06:47
Mark @45,

I think you are right. It just got me thinking because I was sure Stevens was with us 40 years ago. I also think we would have won those titles with Seamus at right-back.

Mike @ 47, that's very understandable, what a midfield we had then, along with the sadly underrated Bracewell. Those were the days.

I was also lucky enough to see the late, great, Ray Wilson in his prime. A Rolls-Royce of a defender.
Darren Hind
50 Posted 03/08/2026 at 07:06:01
Some confusion amongst quite a few here I think you are mistaken popularity for talent.

At a club where two players dominated the position for the best part of 25 years, the competition has not been strong enough for legends to have been created. If being better than Hibbert is the stuff of "legends", I genuinely fear for this club.

Being as we have had so many makeshift right-backs in that time, saying Seamus is the best right-back we've had recently is a bit like saying Theresa May is the best female Prime Minister we've had in recent years. Utterly pointless and hardly a ringing endorsement.

"Legends" win stuff, or at least have prolonged periods of success. Seamus's record at the grounds of the big boys is worse than that of the much vaunted Moyes record. That didn't happen by accident.

He is symbolic of the "plucky Everton" we became. A good honest professional, elevated to the status of legend by people who simply don't know any better.

Would he have won stuff with the eighties team? Are you joking? They could all defend in that team. He wouldn't have even been considered.

Howard Kendall would have left him at Sligo Rangers to be picked up by some mediocre, run-of-the-mill team with zero ambition. A team whose fans would call him "legend"...
Sean Herbert
51 Posted 04/08/2026 at 08:55:10
That team of the eighties was special, Darren, absolutely no doubt about it.
Mark Murphy
52 Posted 04/08/2026 at 08:59:01
Okay, Darren...

You're right again.
Mike Gaynes
53 Posted 04/08/2026 at 09:25:31
"People who don't know any better."\

That would be just about all of us, folks. The Dismissive One has spoken. ;-))

On the further subject of right-backs, The Athletic reports this morning that, while talks have continued over Alistair Johnston, our attention may also be focused on Germany international Ridle Baku of Leipzig. Played in several World Cup qualifiers for Germany (scored against Slovakia) but didn't make the final 26.
John Collins
54 Posted 04/08/2026 at 09:30:14
"Legend"?

Some confusion here. The point was who is the best Everton right-back in the last 20 years. I think we all know the answer to that one.
Mark Murphy
55 Posted 04/08/2026 at 09:43:36
Thank you, John.

Meanwhile, enjoy your popcorn, Mark Steers!
Brian Harrison
56 Posted 04/08/2026 at 10:31:09
Donavan and Tansey were the full-backs when I started watching, so I have seen many in those positions.

I always think it's difficult to judge players from different eras. We have certainly had some very good full-backs... probably Ray Wilson has to be up there, as does Tommy Wright and Alex Parker.

Gary Stevens probably had the best engine of the lot. They had a beep test machine which tested who could keep the pace the longest: Gary Stevens beat all comers.
Mark Steers
57 Posted 04/08/2026 at 11:51:12
Popcorn, Mark, ha ha! It will be a large Pilsner and a big Frankfurter in Stuttgart.

I think we're going to have a good season and hope the moaners on ToffeeWeb start enjoying themselves. UTFT.
Tony Abrahams
58 Posted 04/08/2026 at 12:24:07
Definitely reminiscent of the way ToffeeWeb used to be, Mark!
Mark Murphy
59 Posted 05/08/2026 at 15:55:50
If I weren't in Kefalonia I'd envy you, Mark!

Enjoy the trip and see you somewhere next season! (I'm at the opener v Palace if you're in town?)\ I'll wear me Paddy's Day Number 23 special edition shirt just for you! UTFT
Michael Kenrick
60 Posted 09/08/2026 at 09:01:27
A Turkey journo claims this (translated):

"I'm sharing information from sources close to the president; no matter how much money, whoever offers what amount, even if they offer £50million, I won't make any move that weakens the team, and I won't allow it.

"I'm not selling Baris. Just like last year. Baris is one of our key players. I'm not selling, brother, he says. Tottenham, Fulham, Everton. Some say Tottenham is closer.

"Dursun Ozbek has currently put a stop to it there. No, brother, I'm not giving him, he's said. They've verbally seen £30M plus £5M. I know £35M."

So that looks promising then...
Si Cooper
61 Posted 09/08/2026 at 10:26:04
I have to admit that, although I saw him play plenty of times, I can't really remember much about Gary Stevens, except that he was solid and dependable. I don't remember much marauding or attacking prowess but I could have a faulty memory.

However, it may be amongst the highest compliments you can give a defender to say he simply played his part, with very little fuss, in a side that essentially dominated their fixtures for 2-3 years.

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