Malik Tillman latest suggests exactly what it’ll take for Rangers to move

As Malik Tillman returns to Bayern Munich, the latest from Rangers suggests that any summer move could come down to one thing and one thing only; the player himself.

The Gers are clear that they are more than willing to part with the reported £5m it’ll take to bring the USA international to the club permanently after an impressive, if not difficult, first season in Scotland.

Outgoing Rangers director Ross Wilson was resoundingly praised in Germany for snaring the 20-year-old on a year-long deal which includes an exclusive option-to-buy for Rangers.

Since then, Malik Tillman has blasted 12 goals for the club and has shown his genuine quality across the season, even if perceptions on his work-rate and performances in the biggest games remain divisive.

But after Malik Tillman went off around half an hour into that excruciating Scottish Cup defeat to Celtic, a moment which probably had a bigger impact on the game than we’d care to admit, the attacking midfielder has returned to Bayern.

Malik Tillman has key role in Bayern Rangers fate
Malik Tillman is a special kind of player in that he can occupy just about anywhere in the final third of the pitch and who has the ability to be a matchwinner on any given day.

There is absolutely no doubting the player’s talent, and the latest from Michael Beale suggests Rangers are more than willing to stump up for the kid with Bayern also seemingly open to business.

“That (talk of permanent deal) is all still on-going in the background as well,” said Michael Beale, ahead of the weekend’s victory over Aberdeen.

“We said we’d park the conversation until the middle of May because there’s a lot around it. We want to get to end of the season.

“And Malik has got a say in this as well. Obviously the two clubs have been talking back and forth and there’s agreements between them.

“But the most important person is Malik. If Malik wants to be here in Glasgow, then it’s something we can make happen.

“Likewise if he’s unsure…

“We’d said we’d park the conversation until the middle of May and nothing has changed on that.”

The Bundesliga giants will now run the rule over the player, who remains highly-rated in Germany, before deciding the best course of action in the summer.

And whilst Rangers have made their position clear, it certainly appears that any Ibrox switch could eventually come down to Malik Tillman himself who has a big decision to make at Bayern this summer.