Last week, even before the title was secured, both the manager and the sporting director confirmed their desire to make a former Rangers man a potentially history-making arrival.
With a 15 million euro release clause in his contract – or £13 million to those of us based this side of the Channel – a player Rangers were hoping to keep last summer could be about to become the joint-most expensive signing in the history of Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven.
And, on the evidence of a fabulous last few weeks, Malik Tillman is certainly worth his place in the PSV history books. A combined 24 goals and assists – three of those coming in the recent 8-0 obliteration of Heerenveen – is a return befitting a man who impressed at Ibrox but has taken his game to an all-new level in the Eredivisie.
Marcel Brands, PSV’s CEO, has already confirmed his intention to secure Tillman permanently. So too did Peter Bosz, the coach who ended the club’s six-year wait for domestic glory.
Former Rangers ace wins Eredivisie with PSV
Of course, as Rangers found out the hard way back in 2023, the decision will ultimately be Bayern Munich’s.
The German giants have the option to cancel that option-to-buy clause – like they did after his spell in Scotland – and may be tempted to do the same again, especially if there are clubs willing to pay in excess of the £13 million PSV will stump up.
That, after an outstanding campaign from a man who is still only 21 years of age, certainly looks a bargain.
“The genius that I really enjoy is Malik Tillman,” former Vitesse Arnhem, Ajax and PSV coach Aad de Mos tells Voetbal International. “You have to try to keep him.
“He is particularly gifted in his technique. He has proven to be an added value for this team. For whatever reason, he has not shown that at Glasgow and Bayern Munich. But, at PSV, he completely convinced me.
“If I could advise (director Earnest) Stewart, Brands and Bosz (about) something, I would say; ‘do business with Bayern Munich and try to keep Tillman’.”
Ibrox’s loss is Eredivisie giants’ gain
If there is one point we would argue against, it’s De Mos’ claim that Tillman did not live up to expectations in Rangers. The USA international actually scored more at The Gers (12) than he has at PSV (nine), and was one of the brightest sparks in a rather difficult campaign for a side who sacked Giovanni van Bronckhorst before the Qatar World Cup and ended the season trophyless under Mick Beale.
ByVan Bronckhorst’s own admission, Rangers had planned to keep Tillman at Ibrox long-term.
12 months after his time in Scotland came to an end, without a single piece of silverware to show for his efforts, who can blame Tillman for channelling his inner-Jack Grealish and getting a little merry during PSV’s wild title celebrations, American publication Barstool Sports cheekily nicknaming him ‘the drunkest man in Europe’.
Maintain his current rate of progress, and Tillman might soon find himself at the pinnacle of the European game, and not only for the number of Heineken’s consumed in one sitting.
