Barry Ferguson believes Rangers manager Michael Beale has been left “impressed” by Todd Cantwell following reported talks over a potential move to Ibrox.

Lowdown: Cantwell on the move

Following new Norwich City manager David Wagner’s appointment, Cantwell has been told he can leave Carrow Road this month, with the 24-year-old considering an offer from Rangers to move to the SPFL (via Sky Sports).

Cantwell is set to be out of contract in Norfolk at the end of the season and has therefore attracted interest from a number of Championship clubs, the Sky Sports article claims, but it appears the Gers are leading the chase.

Indeed, Beale recently suggested that incomings could be announced next week following talks with targets, having stressed that any new recruits "have got to be the right people" as he aims to claw back Celtic's lead in the Scottish Premiership.

Meanwhile, he also claimed he was "pleased" with how things were progressing in terms of their interest in the Norwich ace.

The Latest: Ferguson’s comments

After discussions took place between Beale and the player alongside his representatives, Ferguson claimed on The Go Radio Football Show, that he believes the pair have been left very pleased with the direction the deal is moving in.

He said: “Listening to Michael Beale, he sounds confident, so that tells me that it's not far away.

“Obviously, he sat face-to-face with him, I quite like, what he said was he wants to sit and look into their eyes and see if they’re for him and vice-versa with the player, and obviously the player's been impressed; Michael Beale has been impressed.

“There's no doubt he's a talented guy, his career has kind of stalled at Norwich and maybe Rangers is a club to get him back on track.”

The Verdict: Point to prove

We think Rangers will be picking up a talented player who will be hungry to reach the levels he was producing a couple of years ago at Norwich if they can finalise the deal.

The former England youth international has become surplus to requirements at Carrow Road despite the Canaries' severe struggles in the Championship, which ultimately led to Wagner’s appointment.

Without a goal or an assist to his name in 18 appearances in the league this season, Cantwell hasn’t featured since the resumption following the World Cup.

However, he previously showcased his ability in the Premier League with Norwich, where he provided eight goal involvements in the doomed Canaries side that were relegated with 10 straight defeats at the end of the 2019/20 campaign.

On a cut-price deal, Cantwell would prove good depth as well as the chance to kickstart his stuttering career and push his way into the first-team picture, hoping to rekindle the form that saw him linked with Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City only last season.