Rangers spread talent search as Indian duo head for Murray Park

The pair are set to arrive in Glasgow this month and will train with the first-team squad at the club’s Murray Park training complex.

Chhetri, 27, is an India international who currently plays for I-League side Mohun Bagan.

Lalpekhlua, 20, also capped for the national team, is regarded as one of his country’s most promising young talents.

Rangers chief operating officer Ali Russell said: “Sunil and Jeje will be assessed at Murray Park next week and will have every chance to impress the management team.

“Both players have excelled in the I-League and now have the chance to train with Rangers.

“The club is attracting interest globally and there is now a huge appetite across the Atlantic following the recent signings of USA captain Carlos Bocanegra and rising star Alejandro Bedoya.”

Agent Yogesh Joshee, from Matchworld India, said: “Sunil and Jeje are looking forward to coming to Scotland for trial later this month.

“Both players are well aware Rangers is a far higher standard than they are used to and they will need to raise their game to impress but they will give their all during their trial period at Murray Park. Sunil has been the top player in India for the last five years while Jeje has recently burst onto the scene and both players know a lot about British football as they worked with the national team’s English coach Bob Houghton.”

Russell said that the arrival of Chhetri and Lalpekhlua comes as Rangers seek to develop their links with India and extend the club’s “global reach in the South Asian market”.

Head of business development, Raymond Farrelly, will travel to India later this month to meet representatives from Indian League clubs.

Rangers hope the trip will help establish scouting links with the possibility of talented Asian players continuing their football development at Murray Park in the future.

Russell added: “A Rangers delegation will visit India later this month to meet with key officials from the Indian Premier League.

“The club already has links to India thanks to the Rangers Charity Foundation’s partnership with UNICEF and there are undoubted opportunities for Rangers in the Indian market.”

Earlier this week, Andy Kerr, president of the Rangers Supporters Assembly, admitted that what was once unthinkable among Rangers fans – renaming their stadium – would now, in light of the club’s financial problems, have to be considered, if reluctantly.

He said: “I saw the Newcastle story and the initial reaction to the same thing happening at Ibrox, when you look at the background and history of the stadium, is never ever.

“However, you have to have a look at it from a wider perspective, and look at it from where we are in financial terms.”