‘Rangers wanted to buy him’ – Why Scottish giants missed out on Malik Tillman transfer as USMNT left Bayern Munich for PSV

The 21-year-old playmaker enjoyed a productive loan spell at Ibrox in 2022-23, with 12 goals recorded through 43 appearances. Rangers did have a £5m ($6m) purchase option within that agreement, but never got as far as being able to trigger it.

That is because Bayern realised that they could make more money elsewhere. They tore up a deal with the Gers as a result, allowing them to put a deal in place with PSV that could be worth £13m ($16m). The American is now looking to thrive outside of Glasgow, much to the disappointment of former Rangers player and coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst – the man who took Tillman to Scotland.

Van Bronckhorst has told RTL: “I watched a lot of videos of him before he came to us; a good player and a great talent. (Tillman) did a great job for us last year. He gave an assist against PSV and scored important goals against Union Saint-Gilloise (in the Champions League play-offs). He’s strong on the ball and also with his work ethic. He also reads the game and he has good dribbling ability. I do think Rangers wanted to buy him, but Bayern Munich bought off the option to buy that Rangers had. That’s why he is now at PSV.”

Rangers are now coming up against Tillman’s new employers in the 2023-24 Champions League qualifiers, with their tie locked at 2-2 on aggregate heading into the second leg on Dutch soil this Wednesday.