Exclusive: Blackburn Move to Tie Down Captain Todd Cantwell With New Long-Term Deal

Blackburn Rovers are on the verge of offering captain Todd Cantwell a contract extension at the club, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

Cantwell has been a revelation at Ewood Park since joining Rovers from Rangers last year and was appointed as the new skipper after Lewis Travis jumped ship to Derby County. 

The former Norwich City ace is contracted at the Championship outfit until 2027, but our sources have been told Rovers are desperate to tie down one of their most important players to a fresh deal.

Rovers’ bosses are determined to avoid a repeat of recent years where they have lost players for free, highlighting a lack of urgency in tying down top stars.

This summer's transfer window saw the loss of talismanic trio Travis, Callum Brittain and Dominic Hyam who were entering their final years.

Tyrhys Dolan (Espanyol), Danny Batth and Andreas Weimann (both Derby) were three other influential players who left for free.

The have already signed Scott Wharton, brother of Crystal Palace star Adam, to a new deal and fans are optimistic it is a sign of a renewed appraoch. 

And boss Valerian Ismael said: “I think it was important for us, for the club, to learn from the past.”

“So actually, we started already to speak with the players that we think they are very important for the club.”

“Hopefully, we can get some deals done. Scott is the first one, the first step. I think it's a big signal, an impact.”

“Maybe it will help the other players we are dealing with or discussing with. That's to make sure that behind the scenes, the club is working already properly and to try to get some deals done.”

Double Championship Winner

Midfielder Cantwell started his career at Norwich City, where he was a two-time Championship winner, and scored 14 goals in 120 league appearances for the Norfolk club before ending his 15-year association with the Canaries in 2023.

He moved from Carrow Road to Ibrox and scored 13 goals across his 18-month Rangers stay, which culminated in a Scottish League Cup in 2024, before returning to England with Blackburn. 

Blackburn have also been linked with a move for former Premier League champion Daniel Amartey on a free transfer, though talk of a deal has gone noticeably quiet in recent weeks.