Confusion reigns tonight over the potential signing of Todd Cantwell after a number of outlets confirmed Rangers have made no formal approach to his employer Norwich City. Ibrox Noise can corroborate this and verify Rangers have not submitted an offer to City for Cantwell.
However, the part many pundits and media, not to mention fans, are missing, is Rangers are under no obligation to contact Norwich City for any reason unless the club decides to bid for Cantwell to join this window.
It’s called the Bosman ruling. We’re sure you’ve heard of it.
It’s why Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos are infamously free to talk to other clubs, something our fans are angry about in many cases, and indeed many other players like Ryan Jack and Filip Helander are too – the Bosman ruling decrees that those in the last 6 months of their contract can talk to and sign for any other club.
The fact quite a few fans are trying to pour cold water over this story because Sky Sports ‘understands no formal contact has been made’ is missing the point a bit – Rangers don’t NEED to make formal contact.
Todd Cantwell can quite happily sign a precontract with Rangers without Norwich ever having had a say in the affair. The only time Rangers would need to engage with Carrow Road is to agree a fee to free him immediately.
It’s why we were able to get Scott Wright and Jack Simpson immediately back in January 21, because we’d paid the money Aberdeen and Bournemouth wanted, otherwise BOTH of them were coming that summer. They were both formal precontracts and Rangers hadn’t needed, till the bids, to bother with either of their present teams.
On the other hand, Hearts’ John Souttar remained at Tynecastle, for after signing a precontract Rangers couldn’t then get Hearts to agree a fee to release him immediately.
Cantwell at the moment, remains the same as Souttar, albeit we’re not aware of any precontract having been signed. It has been confirmed by multiple sources we are interested in him, but source information he was currently having a medical may not have been completely accurate – that may be in due course.
Norwich have rejected a bid from a Championship side to take Rangers target Cantwell now.