Glasgow Rangers appeared to pull off a genuine coup in January by landing Andreas Skov Olsen on loan from Wolfsburg. The Danish international, once a £12m talent in the Bundesliga, arrived at Ibrox with a reputation for goalscoring pedigree developed at Club Brugge. However, while Skov Olsen works to find his feet under Danny Rohl, a ghost of Rangers’ past is currently haunting European football with a level of performance that dwarfs the current squad.
It has been nearly three years since Malik Tillman left Ibrox, and the USA international has evolved from a promising loanee into a £35m Bundesliga powerhouse.
The Skov Olsen Impact: A Slow Burn
Rangers’ January business was ambitious, spending around £12m to bring in Tuur Rommens, Tochi Chukwuani, and Ryan Naderi, alongside Skov Olsen. While Rommens has hit the ground running with an 8.5/10 rating, Skov Olsen has been a “slow burn.”
Despite a composed finish against Kilmarnock, the Dane has blanked in three other appearances. At a 7/10 rating, he remains a “work in progress” compared to the man Rangers famously failed to secure permanently back in 2023.
The Tillman Transformation: From £4m to £35m
Malik Tillman’s stint at Ibrox (12 goals in 2022/23) showed flashes of genius, but few could have predicted his current trajectory. After Bayern Munich bought out Rangers’ permanent option, Tillman moved to PSV, where he exploded with 44 goal involvements in 75 games.
His “world-class” finishing earned him a £35m move to Bayer Leverkusen last summer. Unlike Skov Olsen who struggled to make the grade at Wolfsburg Tillman has mastered the Bundesliga.
Tillman’s Meteoric Value Rise:
- End of Rangers Loan: £4m
- December 2024: £26m
- February 2026 (Present): £30m+ (Market Value)
“Telescopic Limbs” and Elite Pedigree
Described by reporter Jonny McFarlane as having “telescopic limbs,” Tillman’s physical and technical evolution has made him one of the most valuable ex-Rangers stars in the world.
With four goals and an assist for Leverkusen this term, Tillman is operating at a level that justifies his £35m price tag. In contrast, Rangers hold an £8.7m option to buy for Skov Olsen a figure that reflects the current gap in their respective market standings.
The Verdict: A Bitter-Sweet Reflection
While the Ibrox faithful will be desperate for Skov Olsen to rediscover his Belgian form and lead the club to silverware, Tillman’s success is a sobering reminder of what might have been. Rangers had a “world-class” talent in their hands for a fraction of his current value.
As Tillman continues to soar in Germany, the mission for Rohl and his recruitment team is simple: find the next Tillman, and this time, make sure he stays.
Siara Costa is a football editor and writer covering both European men’s and women’s football, with a focus on league competitions, match coverage, and in-depth storytelling.
