BREAKING NEWS;Rangers confirm the replacement of James Tavernier few minutes ago

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.

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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.