WHAT HAPPENED
ESPN analyst Herculez Gomez has expressed reservations about the increasing speculation linking USMNT midfielder Malik Tillman, 23, with a potential transfer to Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen. Gomez described such a move as representing “a massive jump” for the player in terms of talent requirements.
Tillman was a standout performer in the Eredivisie last season, contributing significantly to PSV Eindhoven`s impressive league title victory, having a hand in 21 goals (scoring or assisting).
“Moving from PSV to *that* Leverkusen – not just the Bundesliga, but specifically that Leverkusen side – is a massive jump,” Gomez stated on the Futbol Americas podcast. He acknowledged Tillman`s historical ties to the Bundesliga through Bayern Munich and his proven success at prior clubs like Rangers and PSV, where he was a top player last season.
Gomez further elaborated on Tillman`s international career: “He`s only recently begun to truly shine for the USMNT, despite having numerous earlier opportunities. This feels like his real breakthrough period.” He questioned if Tillman is “ready for such a significant step up to a club like Leverkusen,” particularly given the high standards they`ve recently set, although noting the situation might evolve without Xabi Alonso. “If we`re considering the version of Leverkusen we`ve seen recently, the jump might indeed be too large,” Gomez added, while confirming Tillman`s clear desire to test his limits and acknowledging his evident progress.
Gomez contrasted Tillman`s strong club performances, which he described as “flourishing,” with his previous less consistent national team outings, which only improved significantly in the recent Gold Cup where he netted his first three international goals and helped the team secure top spot in their group. “I`d prefer to analyze his club form separately from the national team,” Gomez stated. He highlighted Tillman`s consistent progression throughout his career, achieving double-digit goals and assists for two straight seasons, as he had predicted. While recognizing that Tillman is ready for a step up, Gomez specifically mentioned he doesn`t believe a move to a club like Bayer Leverkusen, or perhaps a scenario like joining a team led by Erik ten Hag, represents the appropriate level of progression for him currently.
WHAT KASEY KELLER SAID
Former USMNT goalkeeper Kasey Keller, who earned 102 international caps, echoed Gomez`s sentiments. He pointed out that Tillman`s strongest performances in the recent Gold Cup were against opponents of lower quality.
“I don`t think he`s quite at the Leverkusen level yet, but sometimes you only discover that by actually making the move,” Keller remarked. He fully agreed with Gomez regarding the standard of the teams Tillman faced, struggling to even describe the Trinidad side, labelling Saudi Arabia as merely “OK,” and noting Haiti provided a strong challenge.
Keller continued: “To be honest, I`m not yet seeing a player that warrants excessive excitement. However, I am happy that he has performed well, especially considering our current squad lacks experience. In such moments, it`s vital for more experienced players to step up, which he has done, and that`s positive.” He drew a contrast with the USMNT`s overall performance, noting they haven`t defeated a European team since 2021, and added that he didn`t recall Tillman having “phenomenal games” against teams like Turkey and Switzerland in the past.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Tillman`s career trajectory has accelerated significantly since he made his transfer to PSV Eindhoven permanent from Bayern Munich. At PSV, he was named Eredivisie Player of the Season and has more recently begun to show consistent form for the national team.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Looking ahead, the USMNT is scheduled to face Costa Rica this Sunday in the Gold Cup quarter-finals. The match will be held at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
