George Overhill

Sun 18 June 2023 21:40, UK

Bayern Munich are prepared to loan Malik Tillman to Rangers for a second season if the right offer is made, Kicker reports.

After his PFA Young Player of the Year award-winning campaign the 21-year-old American’s value his increased and he has attracted attention from the likes of Brighton and Brentford in England [Daily Mail, 12 June].

According to the German publication that has prompted Bayern to reject the previous permanent option terms in Tillman’s Ibrox loan deal, reportedly for around £5.1million.

But that has not ended the chances of the attacking midfielder making a return to Glasgow if Rangers can increase their offering, with a permanent sale still open from the Bayern end.

At the same time Kicker reports that they would still be prepared to agree a second loan deal “if there is a corresponding offer”, potentially keeping the door open for Michael Beale to yet bring him back.

Tough

Aside from the fact that the landscape appears to have changed off the back of a decision from the Allianz Arena that is unlikely to have delighted the Gers, this still appears a tricky deal to do.

Tillman was successful at Ibrox, but might have had his head turned if there is the chance to play in the English Premier League.

For the Light Blues to buy him for more than the fee that was previously on the table it would take a lot of outgoings from Ibrox this summer, at a time when there are not extensive assets to make money off of.

The possibility for a second loan could be the only way it happens, but even then it sounds like Bayern will probably be looking for a loan fee that might not make financial sense in Glasgow when there is a lot of business to be done.

If the Bavarians had simply upped the permanent asking price amid possible interest from elsewhere it would surely end the chase right there.

But it doesn’t seem like Thomas Tuchel has plans for him in the first team so if an exit is on the cards either way, a repeat loan might come back into play late in the window.

If Bayern don’t get the offers from other clubs that they are hoping for and Beale has space on the wage bill after signing targets then perhaps Tillman could be convinced of a return with first-team football rather than sitting on the bench in Germany.

It will require a number of chips to land in the right order for it to be possible, but despite what appears to be a frustrating development right now the door remains ajar.

In other Rangers news, the Gers now have an ex-Arsenal figure on their shortlist after a behind-the-scenes interview failed to end in an appointment.