Daily Record teases readers over Todd Cantwell’s Ibrox exit

Michael Gannon has been teasing Daily Record readers over a summer clear out of serial losers.

So far only five out of contract flops have left Ibrox with barely a hint of anyone else being on the move.

Years of being runners-up in a two horse race doesn’t tend to attract much interest while the way players have flopped post Ibrox is confirmation of the damaged goods being shipped out.

Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos are expected to be on the move again after joining new clubs a year ago, Calvin Bassey and Joe Aribo have done nothing since leaving two years ago

With Chairman John Bennett looking to drive down wages the pressure is on Clement to stop Celtic on a restricted budget with only two projects, Jefte and Clinto Nsiala added to last season’s squad.

Using his laddish writing style, wacky Gannon informs Record readers:

The big Belgian could be tempted into a total clear out – where no one is safe. You would imagine he wouldn’t mind keeping the likes of James Tavernier and Connor Goldson around to give him at least some continuity going into a massive transitional period. But would he barricade the doors at Auchenhowie if clubs came in for the pair? Doubtful.

The Saudi talk around the pair just won’t go away and if some decent dosh is on the table then it would make sense for all parties to bundle it up and wish everyone all the best.

Dujon Sterling might have been one of the bright spots of last term, in about seven different positions, but at some point he’s going to need a decent run in his proper role at right-back. There’s yet to be anything concrete for the duo yet so it wouldn’t be a total surprise to see them in the starting line up for the big kick-off in August.

At this stage it would be a major shock if Todd Cantwell is alongside them. The writing isn’t just on the wall for the playmaker – it’s on billboards and plastered all over social media.

At least he’ll see it on the latter. Cantwell is a player – but he just doesn’t look a Clement player. He was left out at Celtic Park at the end of last season and while he started in the Scottish Cup Final, there was always a feeling it was under duress for the manager.

Cantwell’s days look numbered and it’s hard to see much of a future for Tom Lawrence and Kieran Dowell either. They have looked the part at times but never really built up a head of steam due to injuries. Sam Lammers is also heading for the exit and while Jose Cifuentes is on a 12-month loan in Brazil, you wouldn’t bet on seeing him in these parts again.

Cifuentes and the rest will be back, no other club will match their wages let alone offer a transfer fee for serial losers.

Other than the Daily Record no-one has been near the mega-bucks offers from Al Ettifaq for Tavernier and Goldson. The former Shrewsbury starlet is expected to miss the start of next season due to a knee injury.

Last August Scott Wright was getting waved off to join Turkish side Pendikspor, after checking out the salary he returned to Ibrox, coming off the bench to play a key role in the winning goal of the Scottish Cup Final.

Ben Davies, Rabbi Matondo, Ridvan Yilmaz and Nicky Cantwell all have at least two years left to run on their contracts.