Glasgow Rangers manager Michael Beale has urged the Ibrox club to complete the permanent signing of Malik Tillman at the end of the 2022/23 season.
The Lowdown: Instant impact from Tillman
The United States international put pen to paper on a season-long loan at Ibrox from Bayern Munich last summer, and it’s fair to say that he has taken the Scottish Premiership by storm.
The Light Blues star will have caught the eye following his outstanding performances for the club, but the Gers do have an option to buy included within the deal, giving them the first choice as to whether or not they want to retain his services for good.
The Latest: Beale wants permanent Tillman stay
Speaking after Saturday’s 2-1 win over Ross County, Beale was asked whether he could provide any reassurance to Rangers fans over the long-term future of Tillman, duly sending a firm message to the Ibrox hierarchy over what he wants for the player.
As quoted by Daily Record, the 42-year-old said: “Malik’s a no-brainer for me. I would like Malik to be here for a number of years. He’s an excellent young player and he’s enjoying his football here. Again, that’s for the people above me to organise.”
The Verdict: Get it done…
Tillman has made a rapid start to life at Rangers, and Ross Wilson needs to do everything he can to ensure that the midfielder extends his stay at Ibrox beyond the current campaign.
The 20-year-old has posted 11 goal contributions in 23 league appearances so far this season and has been averaging 1.6 shots and 1.4 key passes per 90 minutes, illustrating his consistent contribution in an attacking sense (WhoScored).
Tillman has even been likened to Germany legend Michael Ballack by Beale himself, showing just how highly the manager rates him. Having played the sixth-most league minutes of anyone at Ibrox this term, there’s no reason he wouldn’t want to make the move permanent should he and the team record a strong finish to the campaign and he continues to feature abundantly.