'Won't be...' - Journalist reacts to claims ace could 'Save' Rangers, fans won't accept it

Todd Cantwell will not be returning to rescue this Rangers side under Philippe Clement because the fans wouldn’t accept it, says Hugh Keevins.

The Daily Record journalist said on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard on 16 August that there is no way back for the Englishman after he made a transfer request to the manager, as revealed after the Birmingham City preseason friendly [Sky Sports, 25 July].

The Belgian has persisted with Tom Lawrence in the number 10 role amid a struggling start to the season, leading to a caller suggesting that one of the high-profile options currently “languishing” in the B Team could step in to “save” Rangers, but Keevins dismissed the idea it would be the ex-Norwich man.

He said: “It won’t be Cantwell because you can’t tell the manager twice that you want to be somewhere else and hope to be back in the team. Rangers fans in the majority, I don’t think, would accept Cantwell under those circumstances…

“I do understand that Rangers need fresh impetus. I do understand that there are players inside the club that could perhaps, underlined perhaps, provide the impetus but Cantwell won’t be the one.”

Ianis Hagi also stuck in Rangers B Team

On form Cantwell proved under Michael Beale that he would be an upgrade on Lawrence in this team, but he hasn’t shown that form for so long.

His relationship with Clement has never seemed anywhere near as strong and both have to take responsibility for the fact that he hasn’t shown his best since the managerial change.

The manager’s decision to not consider the 26-year-old is understandable when it is the player who has indicated he is not committed.

But fans have got reason to be more bemused by the fact that Ianis Hagi is currently putting in strong performances for the reserves instead of the first team, and yet a transfer away hasn’t been secured either.

The Romanian international is said to be “keen” to stay but has been told he is not needed by Clement [Sky Sports, 12 August], with a clause in his contract set to see his wages jump by £6,000 [Daily Record, 13 August].

He was thought to have a move lined up to Fiorentina [Digi Sport, 26 July] but that has still not happened, so the Light Blues have currently got the worst of both worlds with no fee and no benefit on the pitch.

What happens with Cantwell if there are no takers could be awkward, but should Hagi remain past the deadline without new signings turning he surely should be a candidate to be reintegrated.

In other Rangers news, a multimillion pound transfer agreement has emerged for a midfielder the Light Blues have made an approach for this year.

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