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by Darrell King
RANGERS are seeking clearance to play new signing Alan Gow against LA Galaxy this week.
The striker, signed on a Bosman from Falkirk, will not officially become a Rangers player until the end of this month.
But Falkirk have no objection to his playing against David Beckham's new team, and Rangers are exploring their options.
Walter Smith invited Gow and St Mirren Bosman Kirk Broadfoot to the US for bonding with their new mates, but Broadfoot had other plans arranged.
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Smith shrugged aside the 2-0 defeat at Aberdeen and admitted his players had dipped after securing second place by beating Celtic two weeks ago.
He will now press on with his plans to get much- needed new blood into the squad - and speculation has gone into overdrive.
As we revealed last week, Smith has targeted Osasuna defender Carlos Cuellar, and today his Iranian midfield team-mate Javid Nekounam stated Rangers wanted him as well.
Espanyol striker Walter Pandiani has also been linked in a £1m move, but Smith would not be drawn.
And, as we told you last Wednesday, Smith has been offered West Ham left back Paul Konchesky. He was in Glasgow for the Uefa Cup Final and stayed on for talks with Rangers and Smith will use this week to decide on any £600,000 bid.
Smith said: "I want winners, people who, when you go and meet them or talk to them, must show a level of desire and commitment to want to come and join Rangers and be involved in what has always to be a winning environment. We are trying to recruit players with a good level of ability. We've been out for a long period looking, and we hope to strengthen well."
Nekounam impressed for the Spaniards alongside Cuellar when they knocked Rangers out of the Uefa Cup in March.
He has a £2.8million buy-out clause and claims to have been targeted by Smith, who wants between six and eight new players.
"It's true Rangers have made me a very good offer. The news is out in Iran and there is a great deal of interest in the story," said the 26-year-old.
"However, an English club and a German club have also spoken to my agent and indicated they want to sign me."
Smith also needs a keeper as back-up to Allan McGregor, after failing to land Jamie Langfield, of Aberdeen.
After seeing his side clinch a Uefa Cup place, Dons boss Jimmy Calderwood confirmed that Smith had tried to sign his keeper.
But he said: "We expect Jamie to sign a new deal in the next few days. If he had gone to Glasgow, then it would have been as a back-up."
Smith and his patched-up squad headed out of Glasgow this morning for the friendly against LA Galaxy, which will be in the early hours of Thursday UK time and will be live on Setanta here at 3.30am.
The manager added: "It's a good trip for us to be taking and it also gives our fans in that part of the world a chance to come and see the team.
"There have been some suggestions we could look at a tie-up with Galaxy, maybe involving younger players going over to gain |