Norwich City have now rejected an offer from Blackburn Rovers for the January transfer of Todd Cantwell. Rangers are also targeting the midfielder, whose contract will lapse in June.
That is according to TEAMtalk, which reports new Canaries boss David Wagner is willing to sell Cantwell in January. But the Carrow Road natives have deemed a £2m offer from their Championship rivals insufficient for the 24-year-old. Norwich also wish to reinvest any fee.
Wagner is happy for Cantwell to explore a new opportunity in January after replacing Dean Smith in charge this month. He is also yet to use the Dereham-born maestro, who has only started 10 of his 19 appearances this season. Cantwell has opened nine of 18 in the league.
Norwich are open to granting Cantwell’s transfer despite rejecting Blackburn’s bid
Smith also failed to see Cantwell score or create a single goal during his spell in Norfolk this term. But Blackburn boss Jon Dahl Tomasson is a fan of the Canaries product and told his Lancashire outfit to swoop. Yet he must improve their £2m offer to seal a mid-season deal.
Tomasson wants Blackburn to sign Cantwell as Rovers are pushing to seal promotion to the Premier League. The Ewood Park outfit is currently third in the Championship. But they are nine points from the automatic promotion places and hold a play-off spot by three points.
Cantwell has previously helped Norwich secure promotion into the English top-flight twice as Championship winners. He also helped AFC Bournemouth finish as runners-up last term whilst on loan to the Cherries. Smith sent him to the south coast late in the January sales.
A third promotion with Norwich is on the bubble this term. The Canaries sacked Smith and hired Wagner as their hopes hung by a thread. They now sit 11th in the table but are only three points shy of the play-off places. Yet Cantwell may soon be on the move this month.
Rangers are also holding talks at Ibrox over a move to sign Cantwell in January
As well as earning interest from Blackburn, Cantwell is also a target for Rangers as Norwich are open to his transfer. But The Sun notes Gers boss Michael Beale is yet to decide on the Ibrox outfit moving in January or to wait until the midfielder becomes a free agent in June.
Discussions remain ongoing at Ibrox over a potential transfer to Rangers for Norwich talent Cantwell, per Jim White. The Premiership giants appreciate his style of play and believe he would fit the system Beale wants to implement after replacing Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
While in favour at Carrow Road, Cantwell used to dazzle with his drive on the ball from the left-hand channel. Celtic hero Chris Sutton even described the creator as an ‘exceptional talent’ on BBC Radio 5 Live in 2020. He also backed Cantwell to join a top-six English club.
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