Coventry City are trying to come up with a “creative” deal to help get Cyrus Christie a move to the Championship.
The Sky Blues are due significant compensation for the attacking full-back because of his age but so far the 21-year-old has been unable to find a club after letting his contract run down this summer.
“There have been various bits of interest from different clubs, both League One and Championship, but as yet the agent hasn’t actually got a deal in place,” revealed City’s development director Steve Waggott who would consider a player swap deal.
“So we retain compensation rights but for the sake of the player, I am quite willing to do some sort of creative deal in terms of player exchange and high sell-on clause to try to ensure the lad gets a club.
“There have been discussions about Cyrus going to the MLS but, just in my opinion, I think he needs to stay in the UK for the sake of his career.
“I am working closely with the agent to try to get him sorted as soon as possible because as we can see clubs are coming back for pre-season in their droves.
“The World Cup will be over this week and then everything will move up a gear and it’s important we get him settled.”
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City are understood to be looking for a six-figure compensation sum for losing the player they developed through the Academy and that may well be putting off some clubs.
Coventry would like to negotiate that fee but are prepared to go to an FA tribunal if they can’t agree with a potential suitor.
Christie is understood to be working with a personal trainer to help him keep fit as the rest of the City squad get stuck into pre-season training, which started on Friday with a series of fitness tests.
“He was out of contract on June 30 so he’ll not be back training with us,” said Waggott.
“He came in to see us the other day which was really nice. He’s been part of the furniture since he was eight and he’s a great lad.
“He wants to play at the highest level and we’ve got no problem with that, and if it’s not to be at our club – and we’ve made him numerous offers – then so be it.
"The first was back in October last year and we kept giving him the offers and he wouldn’t sign, so his mind is obviously made up to move on and we’ll support him as much as we can.”
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