Barry Ferguson has voiced his excitement at the prospect of Rangers securing a transfer for Norwich City ace Todd Cantwell. The midfielder is set to undergo his medical this weekend.
That is according to Football Scotland, which reports Cantwell said goodbye to teammates at Norwich on Thursday. He is now in line to become Michael Beale’s first signing in charge at Rangers after they agreed a fee with the Canaries and to personal terms with his agent.
Rangers have beaten out interest from a number of English Championship clubs and Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven. But the 24-year-old favoured a move to Ibrox as he bids to kickstart his career. Cantwell had fallen out of favour at Carrow Road and is out of contract in June.
David Wagner has not fielded Cantwell in a single fixture since taking charge of the Norfolk club earlier this month. His last appearance came on November 12 against Middlesbrough as a substitute under Dean Smith. It was his 19th game of the term across all competitions.
Cantwell is also yet to score or assist a single goal this season during 948 minutes of action. He has started in just nine of his 18 Championship appearances, plus one outing in the EFL Cup. The Canaries product leaves Carrow Road with 14 goals and 12 assists in 129 games.
Cantwell’s transfer from Norwich to Rangers has excited Ferguson
It was only 18 months ago that Norwich valued Cantwell at £40m amid interest from Aston Villa, per the Express. The Villans considered a deal for the four-cap England U21 gem after they sold Jack Grealish. Manchester City had signed the Three Lions playmaker for £100m.
Now, Ferguson has written in his column for the Daily Record how Cantwell’s transfer from Norwich to Rangers has him giddy with excitement. Especially after Beale revived the Ibrox career of Ryan Kent. He has two goals and an assist in seven games under the Gers gaffer.
“I’m excited about the direction my old club is heading with Beale at the wheel. Cantwell, in particular, is a class act. It wasn’t that long ago he was knocking on the door of the England squad and being linked with a number of big clubs in the English Premier League,” he said.
“Yes, it does seem as if his career has stalled over the last year or so. But that can happen to any player. He just needs the right move to kick-start things again and, at just 24, the time seems right for him to take on a challenge like this.
“I look at the way Beale has got Ryan Kent playing again and can’t help but lick my lips at the prospect of throwing a player of Cantwell’s quality into a similar area of the pitch along with young Malik Tillman.”
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