Anthony Onifade

Wed 31 May 2023 19:22, UK

Rangers will be reportedly paying a close eye to developments regarding Malik Tillman at Bayern Munich with the club “plunged into crisis” and Michael Beale won’t want to be embroiled in a potential saga.

Bayern won their 11th straight Bundesliga title after Borussia Dortmund spurned their chance to be crowned champions as they could only draw with Mainz.

The German giants dramatically secured the crown, on goal difference, after their 2-1 win at Cologne but it wasn’t enough to save sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic or chief executive, Oliver Kahn from losing their jobs.

And such a crisis development at the Allianz Arena may well have damaging repercussions on any potential £5m move for Tillman’s services.

“Wanted Malik Tillman could be facing potential limbo over a permanent transfer to Rangers after Bayern Munich axed sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic,” it said.

“Rangers boss Michael Beale stated before the final weekend of the Scottish Premiership that the Light Blues would hold a conversation with Bayern after the final weekend of Bundesliga action over whether or not he will remain in blue going into next season.

“However, since then the club has been plunged into a crisis with the club’s sporting director being axed despite claiming the league title”, as reported by the Daily Record [30 May].

Rangers are already working at a considerable pace in terms of recruitment, already securing the transfers of Kieran Dowell and Dujon Sterling on free transfers, while Jack Butland is also set to follow.

Beale has already stated his desire to make Tillman’s move to Ibrox a permanent one, with the player already departing at the end of his loan spell, and with the Gers boss wasting no time in addressing his squad for pre-season, these developments at Bayern Munich certainly will be doing his squad planning plenty of harm.

The Gers are certainly well behind Celtic in their recruitment and after much change has already occurred behind the scenes at Ibrox, Beale will be desperate for more efficiency and cutting-edge when securing potential targets.

The 2023/24 campaign will be a hugely pivotal one for Beale with much expected in terms of properly challenging Celtic for the Scottish Premiership title, and signing a player of Tillman’s quality could go a long way in addressing the lack of quality in his squad.

Tillman is a player Rangers simply cannot afford to pass up on, especially with the quality he showed throughout his loan spell this season.

The 20-year-old playmaker underwent a brilliant and rapid development under Beale’s management with the former QPR coach providing him with the tactical dynamics and freedom to wreak havoc in a Rangers shirt this season.

Tillman unquestionably repaid that faith and tactical freedom with some superb returns in the final third, so far registering 14 goal involvements from 25 Scottish Premiership games.

It’s easy to see why Rangers fans are desperate to have him return on a permanent basis, but whether the club will be willing to wait for Bayern Munich’s ‘crisis’ to subside is another matter entirely.

Tillman is an attractive proposition, meaning Rangers could well be willing to wait around to secure his services, but given the rate Beale is currently working at in getting his squad sorted for pre-season, he certainly can’t afford another long and drawn-out transfer saga.

In other Rangers news, a Champions League club are set to make an offer for this Gers player in the “coming days”.