Malik Tillman has enjoyed a positive loan spell with Scottish Premiership side Rangers this season, and with the American attacker’s long-term future with Bayern Munich still undetermined, the two clubs are set to engage in talks over a potential permanent transfer.
Rangers boss Michael Beale confirmed Tuesday that the club remains interested in acquiring Tillman on a permanent deal, per the Glasgow Times. Tillman, who recently was named Rangers’ Young Player of the Year, has been sidelined since late-April due to a hamstring injury suffered in Scottish Cup action.
“I spoke to Malik afterwards [award ceremony],” Beale said this week in a press conference. “The conversation between the two clubs is still ongoing. I think there is a call planned for after the weekend between the two [clubs].
“But it was nice to see Malik at the weekend obviously winning another award for fine contributions made this season,” he added.
Tillman was also named PFA Scottish Premiership Young Player of the Year and received Best XI honors in the league this spring. The 20-year-old scored 12 goals and registered five assists in 42 combined appearances for Rangers this season, featuring in the UEFA Champions League qualifying round and group stage.
Tillman’s impressive season also helped him finish as a finalist for the club’s Player of the Season honor, which was awarded to captain James Tavernier. The former German youth national team players isn’t planning to rush into a decision involving his club future, especially with further discussions planned at Rangers and Bayern.
“I’ve spoken to Michael Beale already and he said, ‘Just take your time. It’s your decision’. That’s what I’m going to do,” said Tillman. “The option is until the beginning of June or something so I still have three or four weeks to decide. I’m going to take my time because obviously it’s a big decision for me.
Tillman was not named in the USMNT’s Concacaf Nations League 60-player preliminary roster ahead of the upcoming Final Four on June 15 and 18 respectively.
He will have options.
so that suggests there was no option price.
Sometimes the sell on price is just set really high like 30 million just in case they have a breakout year. Then at the end of the year they have a realistic talks based on the level the player is now at.
Sorry the option price not sell on price.
Tillmans loan spell achieved BayernM objective of getting heavy minutes and on the field competitive rep’s What’s next? Why go back to Munich and sit in the bench? Does Bayern sell him to Rangers with Tillmans growth trajectory doubling or tripling what they sell for? Interesting scenarios with the hope Tillman continues to improve and becoming even more dynamic
You’d think Bayern would either sell him to whoever can pay more than Rangers or sell him to them with a sell on clause.
Bayern will certainly add a sell on fee if he does go to Rangers and they often include a buy back option when they sell players.
If I was Bayern I’d still think about bumping him up a level – like to the Dutch or Portuguese leagues, or maybe the French league – and get him closer to B1 level. Dialing a player up incrementally – and being patient with the process – has always been the key to a young player’s success. What we saw with the USMNT was he was flashing talent and tools every which way, but his speed-of-thought/pace-of-play just wasn’t there yet and he was struggling some.
Cashing him in to Rangers – even with a buyback clause – is probably arresting that process because in general you do not see the majority of players successfully leaping from the SPL – which is a notch below MLS – to contributing in any way with Bayern. It’d be tough for a player making that leap to even contribute at the bottom of the B1, as we’ve seen with Pepi and a number of others in the past. (You see the odd wonderkid like Pulisic or Reyna who do break through with the top teams, but they tend to be the exceptions rather than the rule.) Other guys who were successful in Germany, like Steve Cherundolo and Michael Bradley, also took that incremental step. (Bradley came through the Dutch and Serie A leagues, Cherundolo joined Hannover 96 when they were a B2 team.)
Right now Tillman’s 20, and as I’ve pointed out in the past, effectively 18 and a half because he lost a year and a half to an ACL tear. I’d like to see him marinate for at least another season or two before I think he’s ready to genuinely push for a spot at Bayern but anybody with eyes can see he almost certainly does have a ceiling that high. By the time he’s 22-23, I definitely think he could well reach that level if they develop him like they should.
Quozzel I don’t agree with SPL beng better than MLS. I know their is a man made list online which list the leagues, I don’t agree with it. Sands, and Mueller from Chicago Fire have all struggled in the SPL. Mueller could not even keep up. I want Tillman to play at a higher level than SPL.