Rangers have identified free-agent Ireland international as a potential replacement for James Tavernier with Coventry City and Preston North End also offering the former Hull ace a return to the Championship.
- Exclusive from Graeme Bailey
At the age of 31, and having played the entirety of his career in England and Wales, the well-travelled right-back could be heading abroad for the very first time.
Cyrus Christie left Hull City when his contract expired at the start of July.
Three months on, offers continue to flood in with a host of clubs both in Britain and in mainland Europe looking to win the race for a highly-experienced performer with 30 caps for the Republic of Ireland on his CV.
HITC can confirm that Millwall, Plymouth and Preston North End are keen to keep Christie in England’s second tier. He was a regular in the Championship for Hull last term.
In total, Christie has played 320 games in the division, turning out for Swansea City, Nottingham Forest, Derby County, Middlesbrough and Fulham.
HITC also understands that Coventry are in the mix to bring Christie back to familiar surroundings.
Coventry born and Sky Blues raised, the veteran started his career at last season’s FA Cup semi-finalists and could make an emotional return a decade after leaving for Derby.
Mark Robins’ current right-back – former Eredivisie star Milan van Ewijk – has recently been linked with Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven.
Championship clubs keen to keep Cyrus Christie in England
Christie also has options from outside of England. Clubs in Greece and Turkey are interested. The likes of John Lundstram, Jonjo Shelvey, Joe Worrall and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are already plying their trade in the Turkish Super Lig.
Lundstram joined Trabzonspor after leaving Rangers.
The Scottish Premiership runners-up could also lose another long-serving performer in talismanic captain James Tavernier.
Trabzonspor’s league rivals Istanbul Basaksehir are keen on the highest-scoring British defender of all time, alongside Fenerbahce, Galatasaray and a Besiktas coach now under the stewardship of ex-Ibrox boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst, HITC understands.
Interestingly, sources have also told us told that Rangers have identified Christie as a potential Tavernier replacement.
While unlikely to be a long-term solution with his 32nd birthday only a fortnight away, Christie’s free-agent status will appeal to a Rangers side who’s options are limited after the Scottish transfer window closed last week.
Christie may lack Tavernier’s remarkable output from the flank, but he still a decent source of creativity on the right-hand side. He has provided 42 assists throughout his career, alongside 13 goals.
Rangers could lose James Tavernier to Turkey
Former Rangers defender Russell Martin worked briefly with Christie during a recent loan spell at Swansea City.
“He is a brilliant professional who is serious about his work,” Martin said at the time, via the official Swans website. “He will provide some real athleticism and quality.
“He is an international and he has a lot of experience.”
Those are the very same attributes that will appeal to Rangers, though Christie would have massive shoes to fill if Tavernier departs before the Turkish transfer window closes on September 13th.
“There’s (been) speculation throughout the course of Tavernier’s time here,” Alex Rae, a first-team coach at Rangers, told Sky Sports a few days ago. “He’s been linked many times, lots of rumours, we just deal with it as it happens.
“Tav’s a very integral part of what we do here and hopefully that continues.
Listen, I’ve no idea, I don’t even know what the bid is, that’s kind of above my pay grade. For me, being at this club he’s been vital. He’s been an integral part over recent years
“We’ll wait and see what happens.”
The post Exclusive: Rangers eye free-agent Tavernier replacement, face battle with four English clubs appeared first on HITC.
from HITC https://ift.tt/5f9BqR6
No comments: