‘There’s a massive jump’ – Herculez Gomez not convinced Malik Tillman is prepared talent-wise to make speculated move from PSV to Bayer Leverkusen

What Happened

ESPN analyst Herculez Gomez has questioned the recent rumors suggesting USMNT midfielder Malik Tillman could transfer to Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen. Gomez stated that such a move would represent a “massive jump” for the 23-year-old.

Last season, Tillman was one of the top performers in the Eredivisie, playing a key role in PSV Eindhoven`s title victory by contributing to 21 goals. Gomez acknowledged Tillman`s success at his previous clubs, including Rangers and PSV, where he was arguably the best player last season.

However, Gomez expressed doubts about Tillman`s readiness for the intensity and quality of *this* specific Bayer Leverkusen team, especially considering their recent achievements. He noted that while Tillman has proven himself at the levels he`s played, the step up to Leverkusen might be too significant. Despite this reservation, Gomez recognized Tillman`s ambition to challenge himself and his visible development as a player.

Gomez highlighted that Tillman has performed exceptionally well at the club level but his national team performances were less consistent until the current year`s Gold Cup, where he recently scored his first international goals, helping the team win their group. While Tillman is clearly progressing, Gomez is unsure if a move to Bayer Leverkusen is the appropriate next step for him.

What Kasey Keller Said

Former USMNT goalkeeper Kasey Keller, who earned 102 caps, echoed Gomez`s sentiments. He agreed that Tillman might not be “quite to the Leverkusen level” yet, although he conceded that players sometimes surprise when given the opportunity. Keller specifically pointed out that Tillman`s strongest recent showings for the national team during the Gold Cup came against lower-ranked opponents like Trinidad, Saudi Arabia, and Haiti.

While appreciative of Tillman stepping up for an inexperienced USMNT squad, Keller noted that the team has struggled against European opposition since 2021 and did not recall Tillman having standout performances in previous matches against European teams like Turkey or Switzerland.

The Bigger Picture

Malik Tillman`s career trajectory has improved significantly since his permanent transfer to PSV from Bayern Munich. His strong performances led to him being named Eredivisie Player of the Season, and he has recently started delivering more consistent contributions for the United States national team.

What`s Next?

The USMNT`s next fixture is against Costa Rica on Sunday in the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup. The match is scheduled to take place at the US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.