Bid for Rangers' Goldson as Cantwell eyes 'new adventure'

Connor Goldson and Todd Cantwell could soon be leaving Rangers

Connor Goldson is in talks with a club who have made "a concrete offer" for Rangers' vice-captain while midfielder Todd Cantwell has made a transfer request, manager Philippe Clement has revealed.

Clement did not identify the club bidding for centre-half Goldson but confirmed the 31-year-old had left the squad prior to Wednesday's 2-1 friendly loss away to Birmingham City to hold talks with his prospective suitors.

The Englishman, who has won three trophies with Rangers since arriving in 2018, is under contract at Ibrox until 2026 and has been linked with Birmingham and, most recently, Cypriot club Aris Limassol.

"Connor was planned to start today," the Belgian manager told RangersTV pre-match.

"There is a concrete offer for him, so I allowed him to go and to speak with this team."

Clement returned to the media room shortly after the end of his post-match conference to clarify why the 26-year-old Cantwell, who arrived from Norwich City in January 2023, also did not feature at St Andrew's.

Scott Wright (far left) scored Rangers' solitary goal at St Andrew's

"A while a go, Todd came to my office to say he wanted to look for another adventure and to make another step," he said.

"We had a long talk, because we have a good relationship. I told him to think really well about that because Rangers is a fantastic club and that I would give him time.

"But he's come back to say that that's what he wants, so I need to focus on the moment, all the players who are here in the building with their minds to play in August, to play the qualifying games and the league games."

With Cantwell training with Rangers' B team until he finds a new club, Clement added: "We need to find solutions at the number 10 position."

Captain James Tavernier made the starting line-up in Birmingham, having missed Saturday's friendly loss to Manchester United at Murrayfield.

The 32-year-old right-back has also been linked with a move to Trabzonspor after nine seasons at Rangers and his own goal opened Birmingham's account in the friendly before he made way at the break.

Winger Scott Wright, a reported target of English Championship clubs, came on for the second half and scored Rangers' consolation goal, with Alfie May's first-half strike proving to be City's winner.

Rangers complete their pre-season programme away to Union Berlin on Saturday then visit Hearts in their Scottish Premiership opener on 3 August.