TODD Cantwell looks set to again depart Norwich City – with reports linking the midfielder to a loan spell with Blackburn Rovers.

The Canaries youth graduate made 12 appearances for Cherries after arriving at the end of the January window, but despite becoming an instant starter under Scott Parker, Cantwell found himself watching on from the stands in Cherries' final four games.

After Cantwell endured a spluttering run at the Vitality Stadium last season, Cherries decided against turning his loan deal into a permanent one, allowing the pre-arranged option to expire.

That meant the 24-year-old returned to a club where he has effectively been frozen out by two successive managers, with both Daniel Farke and incumbent boss Dean Smith opting to keep Cantwell on the fringes of the Norwich squad.

Despite the perceived dead end in Cantwell’s Norwich career, the club did exercise a clause in the Dereham-born winger’s contract to automatically extend it by another year, presumably with the goal of receiving some sort of fee this season.

It is a risky move for the Canaries, as Cantwell will be 25 at the end of his current deal, meaning Norwich would not be due any compensation fee. If he had departed Carrow Road and signed for a new club this summer, the club would have been owed some form of compensation.

The Sun’s Northern Football expert, Alan Nixon, believes that incoming Blackburn boss Jon Dahl Tomasson is hopeful of bringing in the former England youth international to Ewood Park, but due to budget constraints, would only be able to do so on a loan transfer.

It remains to be seen if Norwich cut their loses by saving money on Cantwell’s wage with a loan deal, or if a clean break would be best for both parties.

Cantwell's impressive record of three promotions from the Championship in three attempts could prove tempting for a Blackburn side that missed out on the play-offs last term after an end-of-season slump.

However, Blackburn’s £20 million rated striker, Ben Brereton Diaz, has been linked with a move away – with Cherries one of the rumoured clubs to be tracking the Chilean international.

READ MORE: Cherries tracking Blackburn star Brereton Diaz according to reports

Nixon also claims the Lancashire outfit are in over £100m worth of debt, meaning that the club may have to allow Brereton Diaz to leave at a lower price in order to strengthen the squad.

Cherries look set to sign at least one Blackburn player this summer, with the south coast club closing in on the capture of Joe Rothwell as a free agent.

Rovers refused to allow Rothwell to leave when Cherries came calling in January, but now the midfielder is out of contract, the Dorset side look likely to land their man.