The inside track on Rangers transfer target Todd Cantwell

Here is everything Chris Reeve from TalkNorwichCity had to say about the 24-year-old midfielder.

What can Rangers expect from Todd Cantwell?

The last two seasons have been mightily tough for Todd Cantwell. I’m blessed and grateful to know Todd. We're not 100 per cent best buds but we know each other, we talk and we had him on our podcast. If you want to really understand who Todd is as a person as well as a footballer go to Talk Norwich City on YouTube and type in Todd Cantwell and check out our exclusive interview. We did it when we won the Championship title, he’d just been rewarded with a new contract, had the gold medal around his neck, was full of confidence and it was absolutely brilliant. From a Norwich City perspective, we’re quite disappointed because of the fact Norwich City fans have always known that Todd Cantwell has so much latent potential. We’ve seen him play some absolutely incredible games for this football club, especially in the Premier League. Scoring against all the biggest clubs in the country including the iconic David versus Goliath 3-2 win at Carrow Road against Man City as well as Chelsea and Arsenal. When he’s confident and he’s in full flight he really is the type of player that can turn a game on its head. I look at Todd in the SPFL, I’m not saying he’s of the calibre of James Maddison but I think he could do as much damage. I remember when we loaned James Maddison up to Aberdeen and did incredibly well before he came back to Norwich. Of course, this will be different but I think Todd has a similar skillset in terms of the twists, the turns, the turn of pace and the way that he can dictate play and pull a pass, I think that he’s got that in his locker. When the Rangers faithful are behind him, he will be a phenomenal player for Rangers. I really am optimistic that he will thrive playing under a big crowd at Ibrox. Another highlight was when Norwich played Tottenham away in the cup. It was an incredible game and result for Norwich. We won on penalties at the New White Hart Lane stadium and Todd picks up the ball and does keepie-ups all the way to the penalty spot just because that’s what he did then he put it top left and he gave a little shush to the fans. He’s got a bit of that swagger about him. Ultimately that has meant that he’s had a few haters at Norwich City. He’s very much the modern-day footballer. He likes to do a bit of social media, I see that as a positive because of the way he can be relatable with supporters and communicate with supporters. He’s done some incredible things locally, he gives to charity, he’s done this thing over the last couple of Christmas’ where, in his local town of Dereham, he’s asked kids to leave green and yellow balloons outside their house and he’s turned up and given them boots and shirts and stuff. He's a great guy, it’s such a shame how it’s ended up at Norwich City because all of the rumours going around about him not wanting to play for the club are absolute rubbish and I suspect that what we will hear, in one way, shape or form, from Todd in the future is that a couple of the truths about what has actually happened because it all sort of started to fall away in Daniel Farke’s last Premier League campaign where I believe there was a bit of mismanagement there shall we say.

READ MORE: Rangers transfer scouting: Todd Cantwell's Ibrox credentials assessed

Where has it fallen away for him and is there an element of disappointment at losing one of your own?

Yeah, that’s what stings for Norwich City fans. We’ve always managed to bring through great academy prospects, particularly in the goalkeeper position, some fantastic internationals over the years. The first time we did it was in the new Premier League era but we’ve done it more and more recently and Todd was in the same batch as Max Aarons, Ben Godfrey who went to Everton and Jamal Lewis who went to Newcastle. We’re so proud of those players and so Norwich fans are gutted with how it’s turned out. I think that the hierarchy at Norwich thought he was going to be able to take Emi Buendia’s place which is a huge ask. Unfortunately, he’s not quite lived up to those levels but I think, ultimately, this isn’t a one-way street. I’m sure that Todd Cantwell hasn’t been at the levels that he needed to be which is why he’s been dropped but what I know for sure is that Todd has tried to ask the manager, particularly Dean Smith of late, ‘What can I do to get in the team?’ But unfortunately, I feel that the decision was already made to move him on. I think from a Rangers perspective, he’s a real wildcard, he’s a player to get excited about but you must get behind him. He is a confidence player and I think if he can play in a role where he has space and time he will do some serious damage.

What is his best position?

I can’t really give you an answer on that. That’s because he’s played a number of attacking roles over his time. I’ve always wanted Todd as a number 10. I absolutely think he can play out wide but not as well. The thing that Todd does lack is pace versus other players that are built for pace. He’s not going to be bombing up the line, he’s not that type of player but he is a player that centrally could do some very effective rotations moving forward for Rangers. In terms of position, make him your own because for the last couple of seasons, he’s not really had a fixed position at Norwich City or Bournemouth because that’s the other black mark against his name. He worked under Scott Parker and it didn’t work out there either so it will be interesting where Rangers implement him.

Is it a surprise to see him move to Scotland given the physicality?

What I like about Todd, particularly when he comes off the bench is he can win a foul all day long. Todd is a great player off the bench and perhaps how they will play him for the rest of the season. A player that can come on, twist, turn and win a foul. I think that’s a real positive for Rangers. I think he will be able to cope with that expectation. In terms of the why, I don’t know definitively but I’ve no shadow of a doubt when Rangers come knocking you dismiss any other offer. Also with love and respect to Rangers, Todd might be thinking, ‘If this goes well, I might be looked at, at Rangers, I’m not going to be looked at, at Blackburn, I’m not going to be looked at, at PSV.’ I don’t think he’s thinking that to be clear but there are more than 10 reasons for him to join Rangers and I think he’ll thrive off the supporter base there.

READ MORE: Michael Beale merits total trust in Rangers' recruitment drive

Were you surprised not to see him get a chance under David Wagner?

I’m just gutted and I know I’m not the only Norwich City supporter that is that because you do feel under David Wagner, he could be very effective but he is shot of confidence, he’s not really been in the picture for a couple of seasons. He’s started, literally, a couple of games and come on as a sub a few times but I think, ultimately, Norwich City have chosen Kieran Dowall over Todd Cantwell which is an interesting move. I think it’s best for both parties, I think Todd needs a fresh start at another club with what he’s been through with us in terms of the two relegations, in terms of the expectation and being a homegrown lad. He could do without that pressure. Of course, a whole new level of pressure at Rangers but one that I think he’ll thrive upon.

Are some Norwich fans quite happy to see him leave?

After our relegation, our Sporting Director Stuart Webber, I’m not blaming him to be clear but it didn’t help, it was in the period of lockdown and it was the Premier League restart so fans weren’t allowed in and when we were relegated Todd just sat on the pitch after the game because he was just absolutely gutted but then Stuart said that he was basically doing it for the cameras or more or less insinuated that he was doing it for the cameras which was the beginning of the end really because then the fans started getting on his back. He was effectively the scapegoat despite the fact he scored goals against the biggest clubs in the league. After that, it’s probably been an 80-20 split. Don’t get me wrong the Rangers fans looking from the outside in will see the very loud minority on Twitter but I’d say around 80 per cent of the Yellow Army, Todd goes with our blessing and he goes with our backing. We want him to have an exceptional career because as we sing, ‘He is one of our own.’ We want to see him fly. A warning to Rangers fans is don’t just read little angry people on Twitter and think that that’s gospel. When Norwich City announce it you’ll see the vast majority of people including on social media, will wish him well because he’s one of our own, he’s scored some incredible goals and at the end of the day he leaves the club with two winners' medals round his neck.

Do you feel he’s at a crossroads in his career with what Michael Beale said of him recently that he needs a fresh challenge?

That was naughty of Michael Beale, by the way. But he’s bang on the money. He could reignite Cantwell’s career 100 per cent. I hope and I pray that he will. I do also believe that it’s very much a trap door moment. It’s either going to work and he’s going to springboard onto even bigger and better things perhaps someday in the future. He still has got his prime years ahead of him in my humble opinion but also if he’s left on the bench at Rangers and you don’t have a successful season then what you’ll see is a Cantwell that won’t be so confident. When you have a Cantwell that’s not so confident that’s also lacking minutes that’s when you don’t see the best of Todd. I honestly do think he’s going to hit the ground running at Rangers.