Rangers star to exit Ibrox - Sheffield United & Birmingham City should swoop ASAP | OneFootball

Football League World looks at two Championship clubs who should look to sign James Tavernier on a free transfer following his Rangers exit

Rangers captain James Tavernier has announced that he is leaving the Scottish Premiership giants at the end of the season, having signed for the Ibrox outfit in 2015.

Tavernier's goal and assist output for the Light Blues over the years has been sensational for a full-back, and he was a key man in their historic 2020/21 title triumph.

The Gers are vying to beat both bitter rivals Celtic and shock title candidates Hearts to the Scottish Premiership title this term, which would mark a fairy-tale end to the attacking right-back's legendary Ibrox stint.

Tavernier turns 35 in October, but his Rangers exploits suggest that he could be a real asset for a Championship club, especially given the fact that his services will be available on a free transfer this summer.

Football League World has taken a look at two second-tier outfits who could heavily benefit from signing the former Wigan Athletic man, who also spent time on loan with Bristol City over a decade ago.

Sheffield United

Sheffield United began the Championship season with a desire to launch a serious promotion bid, after losing to Sunderland in last term's play-off final.

However, the Blades endured a woeful start to the campaign under former boss Ruben Selles, who was sacked, prompting the return of Chris Wilder.

The South Yorkshire outfit have still struggled for consistency under Wilder, meaning that they are battling for a top-half finish, rather than a play-off spot, at the end of the season.

Sheffield United enjoyed a busy winter transfer window, acquiring the likes of ex-England midfielder Kalvin Phillips and former Rangers man Joe Rothwell.

However, thanks to injury problems, the Blades have been unable to help Phillips reignite his career, which has damaged their play-off credentials.

Wilder has addressed the need to oversee a summer rebuild at Bramall Lane, to ensure that his side can launch a more serious top-six challenge next term.

Signing Tavernier could prove to be a highly fruitful part of that rebuild, as he offers significantly more attacking threat than that of fellow right-back Femi Seriki.

Speaking to BBC Radio Sheffield, Wilder revealed that United are open to selling Gus Hamer and Sydie Peck this summer.

Hamer has been a top asset for the Blades since moving to Bramall Lane from Coventry City in the summer of 2023, and acquiring Tavernier would help Wilder's men replace the Dutchman's attacking output, even from a different position, but of course he would need to prove he's up to the top-end Championship standard that United require.

Birmingham City

Birmingham City could be set for even more significant changes than Sheffield United this summer, as boss Chris Davies is under pressure following an underwhelming campaign.

Blues only won the League One title in 2025, but the highly ambitious ownership of Knighthead Capital Management means that their current status as a mid-table Championship outfit is unsatisfactory.

Regardless of whether the St Andrew's Stadium club retain Davies' managerial services, they will enjoy yet another busy transfer window this summer.

Birmingham flexed their financial muscles in the winter transfer window by signing striker August Priske from Djurgardens and winger Carlos Vicente from Spanish side Deportivo Alaves.

£15million deal for Jay Stansfield in the summer of 2024.

Despite his handsome transfer fee, Stansfield has struggled for consistency in the Championship, while Marvin Ducksch has not been as prolific as Davies would have liked.

Fellow strikers Kyogo Furuhashi and Priske have also been disappointing, so signing Tavernier on a free deal would give Birmingham a greater goal threat from elsewhere on the field.

Furthermore, right-back Bright Osayi-Samuel has been disappointing since joining Blues last summer, and Tavernier would be a significant upgrade and a potential battle with Ethan Laird, although the ex-Man United man has suffered from injuries in seasons gone by and it's hard to know when his next setback will be.