New Rangers threat may scupper Blackburn Rovers' Todd Cantwell plans | OneFootball

Blackburn's chances of keeping Todd Cantwell may have reduced amid reports stating Rangers could look to re-sign the attacking midfielder.

Blackburn’s decision to appoint Michael O’Neill as their new manager is already looking smart, with the Northern Irishman guiding the team to back-to-back victories immediately after arriving.

It’s still very early days for O’Neill at Ewood Park, but he has instantly got a response from the players, and, despite a challenging fixture list, there will be a belief that Rovers can stay up.

Quite what the future holds for Blackburn and O’Neill beyond that remains to be seen, but that’s a discussion for another day, and the only focus for all connected to the club is preserving their Championship status.

Todd Cantwell facing uncertain Blackburn future

As well as the improved performances, Blackburn will be delighted that they have managed to get successive wins without the influential Todd Cantwell.

The attacking midfielder is currently out injured, and he will be absent for another few weeks, so O’Neill’s side are going to have to continue without the ex-Norwich City man in the short-term.

Whilst he can be a frustrating player, there’s no doubting that Cantwell has quality, and his eye for a pass and ability to make things happen in the final third means he is a standout option for Rovers.

So, in an ideal world, Blackburn would build around Cantwell moving forward, but there are major doubts over his long-term future, as the 27-year-old’s contract expires in 2027.

Therefore, if Blackburn don’t agree fresh terms with the player, they would need to cash in during the summer window, otherwise they risk losing him on a free in 12 months time.

Given their financial situation, it’s perhaps no surprise that reports state Blackburn will sell if no new contract is agreed, and the fact they haven’t made progress with Cantwell suggests he is open to departing in the next window.

As a result, there’s already talk that potential buyers are ready to pounce, and it has been claimed that Rangers are considering bringing the player back to Ibrox.

A return to Rangers could convince Todd Cantwell his future lies away from Blackburn

It’s not just the Scottish side that are keeping tabs on Cantwell, with Wrexham and Derby also thought to be interested.

Yet, with the greatest respect to the Championship duo, they may not be such an attractive option to the player, as he has played in the second tier for the majority of his career, and he obviously is at this level with Rovers.

If O’Neill can continue his good work, and he agrees to stay on, they may start looking up the table, instead of battling to stay up, and that may appeal to Cantwell.

But, if Rangers make a serious play for him, they are a different proposition in terms of being able to entice the playmaker.

Obviously, they are a huge club, but they will also be able to offer European football on a regular basis.

Plus, the landscape of Scottish football has changed since Cantwell left. Unlike then, Celtic are no longer the dominant force, and with Rangers flexing their financial muscle under their new owners, they will hope they can overtake their Glasgow rivals on a consistent basis.

With 50,000 at Ibrox every other week, and the chance to compete for trophies and potentially in the Champions League, it’s something Blackburn can’t match in a football sense.

It should be said that Cantwell’s time at Rangers didn’t always go to plan, and, if you struggle, it can be a difficult place to play, so it would be a bold move for the player if he decided to go back.

But, from Blackburn’s perspective, Rangers’ apparent interest is another reminder of how difficult it will be to retain Cantwell beyond this summer, as a big decision on his future is looming.