Rangers boss Philippe Clement has confirmed that Norwich City academy graduate Todd Cantwell has asked to leave the club. 

The Dereham-born midfielder was absent from their pre-season defeat to Birmingham City on Wednesday evening and now looks poised to depart Ibrox after just 18 months in Scotland. 

Cantwell is yet to feature in their Scottish Premiership preparations and has now asked to leave the club he joined in January 2023 after ending a long association with the Canaries. 

Clement has confirmed that the midfielder will now train with the Rangers' B Team as he seeks a resolution to his future. 

"Todd Cantwell came to me, and we have a really good relationship, so we talked for a long time. He said that he feels ready for another adventure and challenge," Clement said after their friendly defeat.

"I spoke long with him because I think Rangers is a really good club for him and I wanted to give him time also. That's why in the last couple of weeks I didn't speak about it.

"But he came back with the same request. I am going to be focused on the guys who in their heads are focused on Rangers."

Cantwell's spell at Norwich ended under a cloud, with the academy product slamming his treatment in the final months of his Carrow Road spell. 

He made 129 appearances for Norwich including playing a key role in their second Championship title-winning campaign in 2020/21 under the stewardship of Daniel Farke. But the following season the relationship with the club turned sour. 

A loan to Bournemouth followed before Cantwell sought to re-discover his form at Rangers. He has made 64 appearances for the Scottish side, scoring on 14 occasions and assisting 12 times. 

Todd Cantwell was a double Championship title winner at Norwich City.Todd Cantwell was a double Championship title winner at Norwich City. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

Cardiff have been linked with a potential swoop for the 26-year-old this summer as Cantwell now looks for the next step in his career. Clement denied rumours that the midfielder had been permitted to train with Norwich to retain his fitness. 

"I'm not sure," Clement added to the Rangers Review when asked if the ex-City man was close to a move elsewhere.

"He has been training with us all the time and played with the second team because of that, we need to focus on the guys who will be here in the next months."