Fresh Rangers, Todd Cantwell news should have Hull City on red alert: View | OneFootball

The Tigers ought to be alerted by recent revelations at Ibrox surrounding a former Championship ace

Rangers' current mass exodus under Phillipe Clement has rightfully alerted a number of domestic and overseas clubs looking to pursue a bargain transfer.

The likes of Scott Wright fall into said bracket, with the former Aberdeen wide player emerging as a target for Sheffield Wednesday, Derby County and Preston North End so far this summer.

However, alongside reports stating that former Championship campaigners such as Connor Goldson, Kemar Roofe and Gers captain James Tavernier will also be free to depart Ibrox between now and August 30th, a recent revelation involving an ex-Norwich City ace should have the likes of Hull City on red alert prior to the new-season kick-off.

Phillipe Clement drops Todd Cantwell bombshell after Birmingham friendly

The SPFL side continued their pre-season preparations with a trip to Chris Davies' Birmingham City side in midweek in honour of Trevor Francis.

Clement's side were defeated 2-1 in the Second City, and despite the aforementioned exit talk, the likes of Tavernier and Wright were present in the matchday squad, unlike fellow wide man, Todd Cantwell.

The former Norwich man was recently namedropped as a target for Saudi Pro League outfit, Al-Qadsiah after falling down the pecking order at Ibrox, despite only joining the club 18 months ago.

Since that move in January 2023, Cantwell made an initial strong impression under Michael Beale with two goals and four assists in his first 11 SPFL encounters, before hitting occasional purple patches of form last campaign, with the best of those seeing five goals hit the net across seven outings between Christmas Eve and February 2nd.

Cantwell was utilised in a more naturally advanced role under Clement after sitting deep under Beale prior to his sacking, but despite a further two goals and one assist Dundee and Hearts in the division's second phase, the Belgian stated that the 26-year-old has his heart set on featuring elsewhere as the new season looms closer.

"Todd Cantwell came to my office a while ago. We have a really good relationship and we talked a long time about that," the Light Blues boss stated. "He came a while ago to say he feels ready for another adventure, that he wants another challenge."

"I spoke long with him because I think Rangers is a really good club for him."

"But he came back with the same request," Clement declared.

Naturally, such advancements will attract the attention of many fanbases and clubs who believe Cantwell could be an answer to their problems in the transfer market.

And, given his previous record in the Championship from his time at Carrow Road, Hull could definitely do a lot worse than monitor developments surrounding the former England youth international, who was touted with potential £20m moves to the likes of Aston Villa and Newcastle United as recently as January 2022.

New Tigers boss Tim Walter has admitted that City's squad needs vast improvements if his new chargers are to go one better than last season's near miss on the play-off places, and the midfield area has been hallmarked as a department of the squad with a gaping hole following a mass exodus of the Tigers' own as Jaden Philogene, Ozan Tufan and Fabio Carvalho have all departed.

And therefore, Cantwell's ability to play all across the creative line means he should be pinpointed as a prime target, although the majority - 98 - of his senior appearances have come off the left flank, with City's current options in that regard being Dogukan Sinik and Ryan Longman.

No disrespect to either of Sinik or Longman, but a two-time promotion winner from this level, who has since added further goals and assists to his game despite an unsettling recent period in Glasgow would be an upgrade at this moment in time, especially when you factor in the Türkiye international's constant struggles when it comes to shaking off fitness niggles, only playing 22 minutes of second tier football last season.

A high percentage of Hull's goals last season came from those playing behind the front line - 27 of 68, of which 25 have been lost - so it's clear that creative reinforcements are needed, with the former Canary definitely fitting such a bill, as well as having plenty of time in his career for further growth at the age of 26.

This potential signing would also follow the recent mould showcased by the acquisitions of Ryan Giles and Cody Drameh, with both having plenty of second tier experience under their belt and offering potential re-sale value at the ages of 24 and 22 respectively.