Barry Ferguson has urged Rangers to fork out the money required to sign Malik Tillman on a permanent basis.

The playmaker is on loan at Ibrox from Bayern Munich this season and has been an impressive figure in Michael Beale's team.

Rangers do obtain an option-to-buy the 20-year-old this summer. 

And Ferguson reckons it's a no-brainer for his former side, as his value could be trebled within less than two years.

The ex-Scotland captain also reckons there could be a few surprises within the Rangers ranks when the transfer window does reopen at the end of the campaign.

He told Go Radio's Football Show: “There’s nine or 10 players out of contract. Allan McGregor for me is a no-brainer. That takes away the worry of trying to get a top class goalkeeper.

“I’d sign Malik Tillman because I think Rangers want to be the type of club, who go and sign then make a profit on a player. He’s only 20 -– I don’t know what the transfer fee is, €4million, €5million. For me, I’ve seen enough. If he keeps continuing his development, in another season or 18 months, he could be doubling on trebling that transfer fee.

READ MORE: Rangers confirm James Sands departure as midfielder makes NYCFC return

“Michael Beale made a comment a couple of months ago that he wasn’t bringing filler in, he was bringing starters in. Obviously he never played Raskin and Cantwell on Sunday. Raskin was the biggest surprise for me but he obviously felt they never had enough gametime in their legs. Raskin had played two 90 minutes in the space if a couple of weeks.

“But I do think the guys he's going to go and target are guys who are ready to come in and play in the starting XI. You can’t waste money or spend for the sake of it, saying, ‘I’m going to bring in this player and I’m not going to play him’.

“The money Rangers spend has to be spent wisely and it has to be on starters. I think there will be a few surprises. With the number of players who are out of contract where you would maybe think they’d keep the experienced ones.”