Rangers ace has already left Ibrox as Michael Beale delivers Malik Tillman, Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos transfer updates
Malik Tillman has already gone back to Bayern Munich after injury ended his Rangers season, with his future still up in the air, Michael Beale has revealed.
The American midfielder has had a significant impact this season at Ibrox and is one of three players nominated for the player of the season award, but won’t play again before the summer.
Beale says a decision on the £5million permanent option hasn’t been reached, while he confirmed that there are still no offers on the table for Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent but again didn’t provide further news on their futures.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday (5 May) ahead of the game against Aberdeen Beale said of Tillman, as per Sky Sports: “Unfortunately that’s the end of Malik’s season, he’s got a hamstring injury.
“He’s gone back to Bayern just for them to have a look as well, he’s obviously had his scan as well.
“It’s a hugely sad ending to the season for him because he’s obviously a fine young player and he’s performed well for the club this season.”
On a permanent move he said: “That’s all still ongoing in the background.”
Sour note
While there is little to be gained in fielding Kent and Morelos in the final weeks of the season with nothing left to play for, Tillman is one player whose last few games could be the difference between staying and going.
He is likely to be back in Glasgow for the awards night at least, although if it goes to James Tarvernier and Bayern decide to keep him maybe that would be unnecessary.
The 20-year-old has divided opinion to some extent among the supporters, with some having suspicions that he isn’t up for the biggest tests in the Rangers season, but he has undoubtedly had one of the biggest impacts on a depressing campaign.
He is only young and the transition from Germany to Scotland is hardly seamless, so there is reason to believe that he could improve still if he is kept on.
Whether £5million is value for money when numerous new additions are required this summer is open for debate, but what is for sure is that nobody would have chosen a sudden exit back to Munich in the wake of an injury as the way for his campaign to come to a close.
He may be back at Ibrox between now and the summer, and he could return on a permanent basis thereafter, but the latest news is a disappointment for all involved.
In other Rangers news, the club are in line to bank a “significant return” from the sale of one first-team player that is now considered “inevitable”.