Long-term West Ham United target Baris Alper Yilmaz wants to leave Galatasaray for a Top 5 European League this summer, and Graham Potter should be alert. 

Baris Alper Yilmaz has had an excellent campaign as Galatasaray lifted the Super Lig title. The 25-year-old scored 14 goals and provided 6 assists in 46 appearances this term. While the majority of these numbers came from his natural position of left-wing cutting in on his right foot, he also put up decent numbers on the right wing. Yilmaz burst onto the worldwide football scene with his excellent performances for Turkey as a striker at Euro 2024.

In 23 matches on the left wing, Yilmaz scored 9 goals and 3 assists. In 19 matches on the right, the Turkey International scored 6 goals and provided three assists for his teammates.

However, this isn’t where his versatility stops. Yilmaz has also played matches at striker, left back, and right back this term. This, combined with his great statistics for the Turkish champions, could make him an excellent signing for Potter and Macauley at West Ham.

There is a couple of risks that would come with a potential transfer. The first being his adaptation to the Premier League, we’ve seen many players from Turkey come to the Premier League and struggle. We’ve seen it at West Ham with Gokhan Tore, but Yilmaz is clearly a much better player than the former Besiktas winger.

The second would be the price tag. The Lions will demand at least £30m for their star attacker, and that price tag could make a move a lot less likely.

West Ham’s interest in the winger has only just come back into the spotlight as he spoke on his desire to leave Gala this summer. He said, “I really want to play in Europe. I would like to thank my club. We are here today thanks to them. “I hope my club approves [a move away] and everything goes well. I would love to play in Europe,” as reported in Hammers News.

As well as talking about a move away, Yilmaz talked up himself as a player and his versatility. He continued, “I am positive. Sometimes, I am so aggressive, “When a player plays as a full-back or a position where he does not feel comfortable, he’s a little thoughtful when he plays. I don’t have anything like that. I am always positive. I’m always talking and I am not afraid.

“They usually compare me to Mbappe,” Yilmaz said during another interview a year previously. “(But) the biggest name I take as an example is Cristiano Ronaldo. Of course, I have dreams. As a Turk, I want to represent my country abroad [but] I do not look into transfer matters at all. I am focused on my work. My agent deals with those issues.

“If it happens, what is necessary will be done. (But) I love watching the Premier League.”