Rangers told to complete multi-million Malik Tillman deal as £5m claim emerges – pundit
Barry Ferguson has urged Rangers to make Malik Tillman’s move permanent when the 20-year-old’s loan spell from Bayern Munich ends in the summer.
German BILD journalist Christian Falk revealed [14 September] that the Light Blues have the option to buy Tillman for £5m-£6m when his loan deal ends.
Ferguson believes signing the young American is a “no-brainer” for the Ibrox board, particularly if it is for the fee which has been reported.
“I think he’s improved in each game. There was never any danger in his technical side of the game – brilliant feet, he can see a pass, he can score a goal – it was the other side of the game that I look at when he loses the ball, and I’ve seen him a difference in him over the last four weeks,” said Ferguson (Go Radio, quoted by Glasgow Live, 7 February).
“When he’s lost possession, his first thought is, ‘can I try and get that ball back’, or, ‘can I go and help my teammates get it back?’ The reported fee is around the 5 million euro mark. For me, I think it’s a no-brainer.”
Get it done
Although the board may be reluctant to pay the fee initially, there’s a strong chance Tillman will be worth at least double when his time at Ibrox does come to an end. Realistically, his technical ability could well be suited to a Premier League club, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him make a move south in the future.
Michael Beale has been backed since returning to Ibrox, and if the board stump up the money for Tillman it would be a huge show of ambition. It’s hard to believe the American is only 20. His composure and calmness on the ball are beyond his years and his form since Beale took the job has been impressive.
If Rangers want to stand a chance of closing the gap to Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership, then the 20-year-old’s form will be absolutely vital. He seems to be enjoying his football and developing with every game he plays.
When the summer window opens, a move for Tillman will be one of the first things for Rangers’ boss to look into.
In other Rangers news, Michael Stewart claims the Light Blues must be looking to sign a star man from one SPFL rival.