George Overhill

Sat 20 May 2023 8:40, UK

Malik Tillman’s £5million is “expensive” and Barry Ferguson doesn’t think he will be back at Rangers permanently with other areas more of a priority.

The American has gone back to Bayern Munich but both he and manager Michael Beale have suggested the door is still open for a return, although with a lot of transfer business to be done this summer the fee may take up a decent chunk of the budget.

Ferguson feels there’s an outside chance that the 20-year-old is playing for the club still next season but has pointed to Todd Cantwell as a worthy candidate to take over in the attacking midfield role.

The ex-Ibrox captain said on the Go Radio Football Show, as per Football Scotland: “It’s hard to say. I don’t think he’ll sign permanently.

“I think if they are wanting to do something, whether it’s a lower fee or maybe another loan for a year…the money that’s getting spoken about, around about £5million, I think it’s expensive.

“I think there are other areas of the pitch where Rangers really need to concentrate on and I’m talking number nines, one or two out-and-out wide players, a central midfielder, another couple of defenders and maybe another goalkeeper.

“You’ve got [Todd] Cantwell who can play in that area. So it’ll be interesting to see what happens but I think it would only happen if they could reduce the fee or get him on another season-long loan.”

Parting

All things being equal it would make sense to keep Tillman since he’s already familiar with the club and with Beale’s methods, and his PFA Young Player of the Year award is testament to his effectiveness.

But the player’s perspective is vital and he has been tipped to want to challenge himself in another league amid mounting interest from England and elsewhere.

Plus, if it is a straight choice between pushing to keep him and signing two or three other players that the manager feels he needs then it is probably a decision that makes itself.

Despite some sections of the fanbase remaining ambivalent over the 12-goal midfielder it is hard to say his season hasn’t been impressive overall, at his age and on his first loan move.

He arguably hasn’t taken the biggest games by storm, but it was only a few weeks ago that the same was been accused of Cantwell.

The winner against Aberdeen followed by a talismanic performance in the 3-0 victory over Celtic, which he kickstarted with the opening goal, has changed that view, and Beale will certainly hope he continues in that vein next season.

In other Rangers news, the club may be able to bring back another man for that position as clauses can hand the Gers a major discount.