MALIK Tillman, the Bayern Munich attacking midfielder who has spent this season on loan at Rangers, is set to hold talks with Ibrox manager Michael Beale about his future this week.
However, Tillman, who was named PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year by his fellow professionals on Sunday, has stressed he will take several weeks before deciding whether to return to Glasgow.
The 20-year-old, who has scored 12 goals for the Govan outfit at home and abroad in the 2022/23 campaign, has been ruled out for the remainder of the season by a hamstring injury.
However, he flew back to Scotland from Germany to receive his award this weekend and will meet with Beale, who has stated he is eager to keep the United States internationalist, in the coming days.
Rangers have an option to buy the player for a fee in the region of £5m and Beale has stated publicly that he would like to secure the versatile Bayern player’s services on a permanent basis in the past.
Tillman admitted he has enjoyed playing under the Englishman in the past five months and conceded that playing in Europe again next season was an attraction for him. But he stressed that he was not going to rush his decision.
“It is still everything open,” he said. “I am going to talk to Michael Beale in the coming days and see what he is saying and what the club is saying. Then I am going to speak to Bayern again and see what is their plan for me. And then I am going to decide.”
“I’ve spoken to Michael Beale already and he said: ‘Just take your time. It’s your decision’. That’s what I’m going to do. The option is until the beginning of June or something so I still have three or four weeks to decide. I’m going to take my time because obviously it’s a big decision for me.”
Tillman added: “The manager and I have had a great relationship since the first day. He is completely honest with me every day and, especially for a young player, it is important the manager speaks to you and that is what he did.
“That’s what helped me a lot as well. I really like him and I think he likes me as well. That is at least a good thing where I could imagine myself. It’s always nice to talk to him.
“I think it’s always nice to play in Europe as well. That’s what you dream of and what you want to do. It’s where you improve the most, I would say, because you learn from the best players in the world.
“It’s a good point Rangers have, that they’re guaranteed European football next season. But I haven’t decided anything yet.”
Asked by Sky Sports to assess his chances of being at Rangers next season, Tillman said: "I don't know, 50-50. It's up to Rangers, up to Bayern and up to me. It's completely open.”
