Todd Cantwell is now leaving Rangers as the deal for him to join Blackburn has been agreed, according to the Daily Record.
The paper reported via their website on 29 August that the midfielder is set to move to Ewood Park on a six-figure deal, despite Rovers boss John Eustace putting the move in doubt earlier the same day.
Cantwell has also agreed to the switch to the English Premiership, bringing his controversial stay at Ibrox to and end after a year and a half, having asked to leave the club this summer.
The Athletic had reported earlier on 29 August that advanced talks were taking place between Rangers and Blackburn, with a medical on the cards, before Eustace told the media later the same day [via Lancashire Telegraph] that “nothing” was imminent and nobody was in for tests.
Todd Cantwell secures Rangers exit despite John Eustace claims
Considering how “terrible” the situation has turned out with Cantwell at Ibrox, according to Derek Ferguson, it should be a relief all round that this deal is going through.
The 26-year-old finished his first season in Glasgow as arguably the star of Michael Beale’s side but his form and standing at the club disintegrated last term and his relationship with Philippe Clement was never as strong after the managerial change.
Putting in a transfer request and seemingly refusing to play for either the senior side or the B Team has upset supporters so getting him off the wage bill for even a minor fee avoids an even bigger mess developing.
It is still a far cry from what anyone would have expected a year ago, but with a pay off to terminate his contract tipped as the likely outcome if a move hadn’t materialised [PLZ Soccer, 26 August] this is probably the least bad option.
Attention will now turn to whether Clement has the time to use the space left by Cantwell’s exit to bring in a replacement who will contribute to the first-team.
And whether a solution can be found to Ianis Hagi’s situation, with the attacker also training with the B Team but determined to stay at the club [Sky Sports, 26 August], in stark contrast to Cantwell.
The Romanian’s plight has been tipped as a potential issue for the club as they scramble for late signings, with players and agents taking notice of his treatment after his father blasted the club over an “ugly” episode.
In other Rangers news, the Light Blues are now set to complete a late signing inside the deadline after a senior exit.
