Aston Villa and Newcastle United have scouted in-demand Turkish attacker Baris Alper Yilmaz ahead of a potential move this summer.
According to a report from ABC Haber, Aston Villa and Newcastle United are both interested in securing the services of Galatasaray attacking sensation Baris Alper Yilmaz. Their scouts were present in the stands to watch the Turkish international in action against Hatayspor in their opening Super Lig game of the season.
Yilmaz has made quite a name for himself with his impressive performances for both club and country. Last season, the 24-year-old winger was involved in 55 matches and he ended the season with seven goals and 12 assists. He not only played across the entire frontline but also stepped in as a full-back on both flanks when needed.
His performances helped him secure a place in Turkiye’s squad for Euro 2024. He featured as number nine for the national team and played a big part in helping them reach the last eight of the tournament. Although he did not find the back of the net, he impressed everyone with his skills both on and off the ball.
Aston Villa and Newcastle United scout Baris Alper Yilmaz
Aston Villa and Newcastle United are two clubs who have been closely monitoring him for some time now. Eddie Howe wants more depth out wide on the flanks, and Newcastle United have been linked with quite a few forwards. Yilmaz could be a great option for them as he can start on either flank as well as lead the line when needed.
While Aston Villa have already made quite a few signings this summer, they are still on the lookout to reinforce their attack. Unai Emery is someone who prefers having players who can feature in multiple positions and he would love to have someone like Yilmaz in his ranks as the Turkish international can feature anywhere on either flank as well as a number nine.
Both English clubs are keen on his services, and their scouts were present in the stands to watch Galatasaray’s opening Super Lig fixture against Hatayspor. The Turkish giants won 2-1 on the night and Yilmaz, who started out wide on the left managed to impress with his energy and exceptional pace.
While they have evaluated the 24-year-old, it will be interesting to see if either Newcastle United or Aston Villa make a move for his services before the end of the transfer window. Meanwhile, Galatasaray are unlikely to let him leave on the cheap with three years still left on his deal.
