Rangers’ hopes of keeping Malik Tillman next season are not completely dead, despite reports to the contrary.
That’s according to Sport 1, who say Michael Beale still have a chance of bringing Tillman back to Ibrox after his successful season on loan in Scotland.
Tillman joined Rangers on loan from Bayern last summer and went on to establish himself as a key member of Beale’s squad, making 43 appearances across this season and managing 12 goals and five assists.
The deal proved to be beneficial for all involved, with Tillman getting the regular playing time and development he needed, Rangers adding a key player to their squad and Bayern seeing the 21-year-old develop nicely at Ibrox.
The youngster is set to return to Bayern at the end of this month when his loan deal with Rangers expires and reports had made it clear that the Gers chances of keeping him were slim to none.
That was partly due to the fact that Bayern had made use of ‘an unusual clause’ to ensure that a purchase clause included in the loan deal, valued at around €6m, could not be activated by Rangers.
That does not mean a return to Ibrox is ‘completely closed’, though, more that Bayern didn’t want him to leave at a ‘bargain price’.
Indeed, the German champions would be more than happy to let Tillman go out on loan again and at this moment in time the player in leaning towards moving to the UK for a second time.
The bad news for Rangers is that there are bigger clubs than them in the mix and ‘several representatives’ from the Premier League have already been in touch.
That would suit everyone as Tillman would like to make a step up after his loan in Scotland and Bayern would be happy to see him tested at a higher level. The youngster would prefer a move out as he feels development is key at this point in his career.
He wants to continue the ‘flow’ he had at Ibrox and keep pushing on, rather than spending a season on bench or just in the mix with Bayern.
Thus, Rangers still have a chance to get him, although Beale and his team will have to work hard to convince the forward as the competition is heating up for his signature.
