George Overhill

Thu 12 January 2023 19:10, UK

Rangers face a “considerable amount of work” to complete a deal for Norwich attacker Todd Cantwell, according to The Times.

The out-of-favour Canaries man is tipped to have the “swagger” to be a favourite at Ibrox and rile opposing fans, and remains a “live target” for Gers boss Michael Beale after a bid was turned down from Blackburn Rovers.

Norwich don’t want to sell to an English Championship rival, so the door is open for Rangers but the move is apparently far from a done deal.

However, it is reportedly much more likely than a move to bring in Everton midfielder Tom Davies, the second of the players Beale had directly addressed amid January rumours [PLZ Soccer, 9 January], who now appears to be a long shot.

Writing in The Times Michael Grant said in a Thursday update (12 January): “There is a considerable amount of work to be done to make a deal happen— there is a lot which still has to align, said a Rangers source yesterday — but Cantwell is very much a live target for Michael Beale whereas Tom Davies of Everton is less likely.”

Push

Cantwell is clearly someone that the manager likes a lot to come out and speak so highly of him during the transfer window where he wants to sign him.

He looks to be on the outs in Norfolk with his contract up in the summer so a small fee should be enough to get Rangers to get Norwich to consider.

If they have turned down Blackburn on the grounds of them being in the same division then Ibrox makes perfect sense for them and would provide some return on a player who rarely completes 90 minutes this year.

Even if a January arrival isn’t possible, the head start on a summer move would surely be a strong likelihood if Beale is that taken by the 24-year-old.

Cantwell has lost his way since he was a regular Premier League starter and a big money transfer target for the English giants, but he still has age on his side and it seems obvious that a change of scenery is necessary so prolonging his time at Carrow Road would seemingly be of minimal benefit.

He is certainly one to keep an eye on, and as Grant suggests could be a polarising figure in the SPFL if a deal is done, but it is a shame if Davies may be off the table.

Fans have been looking at the midfield as light since the summer but a significant-looking injury to Everton teammate Alex Iwobi at Manchester United last week (6 January) might have put an end to the Englishman’s chances of a January exit, although he is another player into the final stretch of his deal so may also be one for the summer.

In other Rangers news, Michael Stewart of all people has mounted a passionate defence of one Gers standout amid heavy scrutiny.