Rangers have a looming Todd Cantwell problem as the transfer window edges nearer to its close.
The high-earning Ibrox midfielder has told Philippe Clement he doesn’t want to play in Scotland and the Gers have been trying to shift the 25-year-old ever since.
But this is now the third club that Todd Cantwell has had behavioural issues with Rangers lumbered with the wantaway midfielder until an exit deal can be struck.
The only problem is that finding serious suitors for Cantwell is proving somewhat difficult.
But now one ambitious English Championship side are reportedly lining up a move for the midfielder which would see everyone in the Ibrox club’s recruitment and finance department breathe a sigh of relief.
Todd Cantwell on Blackburn Rovers transfer ‘list’
Ex-Norwich City midfielder Todd Cantwell is an enigmatic figure in English football and has spurned plenty of opportunities already in his career.
But the attacking midfielder could be offered an Ibrox reprieve by Blackburn Rovers manager John Eustace, who is reportedly eyeing a move for the Rangers star.
That’s according to journalist Alan Nixon, who has made the claim on his official X account.
This comes just days after Blackburn Rovers admitted interest in Rangers attacker Rabbi Matondo.
John Eustace had claimed that Matondo was a person of interest at Ewood Park but that was before the winger’s barnstorming performance at Hampden over the weekend.
Whilst Todd Cantwell was training by himself, Matondo was netting a double and laying on two assists in a thumping 6-0 victory over Ross County.
Clement confirmed after the match that whilst Matondo could still leave Rangers, an exit was increasingly unlikely and unexpected.
Rangers look to free up millions from wage bill
Whilst Nixon claims that Todd Cantwell is only on Blackburn Rovers’ list, the news will be welcomed by Rangers supporters.
The only other side prominently linked to Cantwell is Trabzonspor, with the Turkish outfit reportedly meeting the midfielder in Glasgow a few weeks ago.
To give you an inclination into the circumstances in which Rangers signed the ex-Canaries attacker, Michael Beale claims the Gers never paid a penny to buy Cantwell in January 2023.
According to Salary Sport, Rangers did however agree to pay the one-time Bayern Munich target £22k per week or £1.1m per year.
If Rangers cannot get Todd Cantwell off the club’s wage bill then the Gers face the very real prospect of missing out on transfer targets who will actually contribute this season.
Having already shipped out high-earner Ben Davies (£1.4m per season) in the last few days, all attentions are firmly on getting Cantwell out the door next.
There is also the complicated situation with Romanian playmaker Ianis Hagi (£1.1m per season), who has just turned down a move to Rapid Bucharest and a return to his home country.
In total, these three players stand to save Rangers around £3.6m per year in wages and getting them off the annual bill is crucial to completing any more business this summer.
Let’s hope for our sake Blackburn Rovers are willing to take a punt on Todd Cantwell and the frustrating Rangers midfielder can become someone else’s problem.
