There are elements of Malik Tillman's play that remind Michael Beale of a young Michael Ballack.
Perhaps that's why the new Ibrox boss is already desperate to sign the on-loan Bayern Munich midfielder on a permanent basis.
Tillman, 20, agreed a season-long loan switch to Rangers in the summer with the club holding an exclusive option to sign the United States international.
When Beale was asked if he'd like to sign the player permanently, his answer was emphatic.
"Would you buy him? So would I. It's a pretty obvious one," said Beale of the decision on signing the midfielder. "I really like Malik, he's exactly what I like in a footballer. He can take the ball, he can twist and turn, he's 20 years old and you can see what he could grow into.
"He's the exact type of player we want at this club. I don't the exact fee or where we are going to get it from but if we can do it, I would definitely sign Malik Tillman, yes."
Tillman has been utilised in a number of roles during his short Rangers stint to date with appearances centrally, on the right and behind the striker.
For Beale, Tillman will play higher up the pitch and be tasked with creating for Rangers with less emphasis on his defensive contribution.
The Ibrox boss explained: “I’m delighted that Malik’s here and he wants to play slightly higher up the pitch. So we’re going to give him the freedom to run out of that midfield and into the positions he was in today.
“We have to let Malik go and make the game and make the team. In football you have ideas but players dictate and I have to allow these players to go and express themselves.
“Malik is a fantastic talent and we’re lucky to have him here in Scotland. He’s only 20 but he has a huge future ahead of him, hopefully for this club."
While conscious to temper expectations over Tillman's future in the game, Beale couldn't help but compare his performance against Bayer Leverkusen to German legend Ballack.
Tillman scored a double in the first half for Rangers in the friendly fixture to surely earn a starting spot in Beale's first competitive match in charge against Hibs on Thursday.
Beale continued: "Sometimes for a 20-year-old boy and the intensity of the league, he's a player that will always perform better in a team that's confident and playing on the front foot.
"I don't want to comment on the past, but since the last two weeks he's got better every day in the training, with the ideas. Today, playing against a German team, was important for him and the two finishes were fantastic.
"I don't want to go too far, but it was like a young Michael Ballack used to play, arriving from deep and the header off the set play. That's all Malik can do - play the next game.
"Sometimes we want too much from young players, too soon. He's only been in the country four or five months and the style of football is different to what he's been used to but he's a fantastic talent."
