Todd Cantwell has played his final game for Rangers after last night handing in a second transfer request.
Ibrox boss Philippe Clement revealed the news after his side’s 2-1 pre-season defeat to Birmingham City, with the unplanned loss of another leading player representing a major dilemma for the Belgian ahead the new season.
The English midfielder was omitted from Clement’s squad for the clash at St Andrews along with defender Connor Goldson, who now looks set to complete his move to Cypriot club Aris Limassol.
After performing his media duties, Clement re-emerged to explain the Cantwell situation, revealing that talks with the 26-year-old over a prior transfer request had failed to convince him to stay in Glasgow.
Clement said: ‘Todd Cantwell came to my office a while ago. We have a really good relationship and we talked a long time about that.
‘He came a while ago to say he feels ready for another adventure, that he wants another challenge.
Cantwell has played his final game for Rangers after a summer of soul-searching
Clement tried in vain to convince the playmaker he was already at the ideal club to progress
The Englishman was a colourful player at Ibrox and often at the heart of Old Firm flashpoints
‘I spoke long with him because I think Rangers is a really good club for him.
‘I wanted to give him time also, so that’s why the last couple of weeks I didn’t speak about it. But he came back with the same request.
‘So I’m going to be focused on the next couple of weeks on guys who are with their heads with Rangers.’
Cantwell will no longer train with the first team as he awaits an escape route out of Ibrox. The former Norwich star has issued a series of cryptic social media posts over the summer and even became involved in a war of words with a supporter.
Goldson’s departure also took a step closer last night after Clement confirmed the club had received a ‘concrete offer’.
Tavernier scores an own goal as Rangers fall behind in a 2-1 pre-season defeat in Birmingham
Tavernier has also been heavily linked with a move away from Rangers this summer
The 31-year-old defender was in Cyprus over the weekend for talks over a move to Aris Limassol, with the Ibrox club needing to sell before they can buy this summer.
Clement was asked about the situation on Rangers TV prior to last night’s friendly, revealing: ‘Connor was planned to start today, that was the idea. But there is a concrete offer for him so I allowed him to go and speak with this team.
‘That’s why I allowed him to leave today. We will see in the next couple of days.’
Rangers remain in talks with Trabzonspor over a deal that would see captain James Tavernier leave, while Sam Lammers is close to a £2million deal to join FC Twente.
Clement’s squad for the new season is a long way from settled with just one week until kick-off
Last night’s clash at St Andrews saw both clubs pay tribute to former striker Trevor Francis
Reports from Germany last night linked Czech winger Vaclav Cerny with loan move to Rangers from Wolfsburg.
In last night’s friendly at St Andrew’s, English League One side Birmingham led after nine minutes through a Tavernier own goal from a dangerous corner. Alfie May doubled the hosts’ lead on 37 minutes in a dispiriting first half for Rangers.
Winger Scott Wright pulled one back for Clement’s side — backed by 7,000 travelling fans — in the 68th minute.
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