According to a recent report by the Scottish Sun, Dutch midfield starlet Guus Til has revealed that he turned down an opportunity to join Steven Gerrard’s Rangers squad to make the loan switch to Bundesliga outfit Freiburg in the summer. The report suggests that the youngster’s £17m move to Russia hasn’t quite gone to plan and that a move away from Spartak Moscow was almost necessary. The chance to play in the Bundesliga is seemingly what has prompted the Dutchman to make the switch to Germany over Scotland.
Although the report has clarified that Rangers missed out on signing Freiburg loanee Guus Til, the player himself states that he is better suited to the German style of play. Speaking on the matter, the 22-year-old said, “I could also have gone to PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord and Rangers, but I think the Bundesliga is the best of all competitions for me and I look forward to playing in it. I’ve heard from many people that Freiburg are a very family-run club and I’m happy to be a part of it. The pace is fast in the Bundesliga, it suits my style of play and I didn’t have to think long about the offer.”
What Kind Of Player Is Guus Til?
The 22-year-old is an attacking midfielder by position but is capable of playing anywhere across the front-line. Despite only joining the Russian club last summer, he was immediately given the armband by the manager, in what must be perceived as an indicator of the talent and potential that he has got.
A product of the AZ Alkmaar academy, the forward tends to make a nuisance of himself in the final third, and this attacking intensity is arguably what earned him an international cap for Holland as well. The Freiburg loanee is an excellent carrier of the ball, in that he can beat any defender in the world on his day.
Capable of beating a man using either pace or tricks, the Dutchman is undoubtedly at his most dangerous when driving at opposition defence lines. Not only is Til capable of operating down the flanks, but his vision and passing ability from wide are commendable aspects of his game as well. Despite his struggles in the league last season, the youngster managed to notch up 18 appearances, scoring two goals and setting up a further three in the process. The former Alkmaar man offers an extremely composed head in the final third, and his finishing abilities are right up there with the best in the division as well.
What Purpose Would Til Have Served At Rangers?
Despite the summer acquisition of Ianis Hagi, the wide areas have been a concern for Steven Gerrard. Ryan Kent has been a lone shining star, but neither Hagi nor Brandon Barker, have been able to really capture the imagination so far. This lack of penetration and creativity in the attack hasn’t cost them yet, but over the course of a long and strenuous season, it is almost certainly going to come into play. The presence of a talented and promising attacking-midfielder like Til could have been the boost that Gerrard’s attack-line needed for the current season.
Rangers Missed Out On Signing Freiburg Loanee Guus Til: Will Gerrard Regret This?
The arrivals of Kemar Roofe and Cedric Itten were greeted with massive plaudits, but it won’t help get over the fact that they need more attack-minded creators in the squad. Expecting the likes of Joe Aribo or Glen Kamara to deliver the good consistently is like asking for trouble, while there is only so much that Hagi and Kent can do. The addition of Til would have added a different dimension to this Rangers attack-line, in that he is capable of running at defences centrally too. Til has the potential to develop into a top talent, and unless things continue to go as smoothly as they have been so far, Gerrard is surely going to feel at least a sliver of regret in not signing the Dutchman.
