Malik Tillman will not be heading to Rangers this summer as interest from Europe’s top five leagues derails a potential transfer from Bayern Munich.
That’s according to Rangers Review editor Jonny McFarlane, who made the claim while speaking on one of the platform’s daily YouTube videos.
According to McFarlane, while Malik Tillman loved his season-long loan at Rangers, he is not preparing to make the transfer permanent despite the Ibrox club boasting an exclusive option-to-buy.
“I’m hearing that he won’t sign,” Jonny McFarlane told the Rangers Review YouTube channel on 16/05/23.
“I’ve heard from a couple of people now that ultimately Malik sees his future elsewhere.
“He’s really enjoyed his time at the club but there’s interest from the top five leagues in him. I’m not surprised at that, look at his talent. It’s straight forward why there would be people that would want to snap him up at that kind of price.
“I think he sees the idea of coming back to Rangers and playing week-in week-out against the lower likes of the Premiership as not being something that’s really going to stretch him or develop him further, as much as it’s benefited him in the short term.
“I’d be very surprised personally if Malik Tillman agrees to come. The deal’s done between Rangers and Bayern Munich, that’s been in place since the summer so it’s now actually on Tillman himself.”
The news threatens to potentially split the Rangers support, with plenty of fans eager to complete a deal for the 20-year-old USA international and others believing the £5m Tillman transfer fee is a huge chunk of the budget.
Malik Tillman transfer claim comes despite Rangers award comments
The comments come despite Tillman keeping the door open on a potential switch to Rangers after picking up the PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year award.
The German-born attacking midfielder impressed in his debut season in Scottish football, netting ten Premiership goals for the Ibrox side and leaving a big impression on the nation’s game.
So much so, in fact, that Tillman’s fellow professionals voted him the best young player in the country and, while he was delighted to pick up the award, the talented youngster was coy on a transfer to Rangers.
“I had a great time here and it might not be the end so we will see what’s going to happen in the summer, I don’t know,” said Tillman after receiving the award.
“It’s 50-50. It’s up to Rangers, up to Bayern, and up to me so it’s completely open.
“I’m going to speak to Michael Beale in the next couple of days and see what he’s saying, see what Bayern are saying, and then I will decide.”
In 43 appearances for Rangers this season, Tillman netted twelve goals in total and also laid on five assists after arriving on loan from Bayern Munich.
