CLAUDIO REYNA today tipped fellow-American Damarcus Beasley to be a smash-hit with Rangers in Scotland.
The PSV Eindhoven left winger - who spent last season on loan at Manchester City with ex-Rangers favourite Reyna - is believed to have been the subject of a concrete approach from Ibrox boss Walter Smith.
The 25-year-old American international has a year to run on his contract with the Dutch champions, but has been told he can leave this summer.
Rangers are looking at paying PSV a fee to take over the final year of his deal, with a view to a longer contract if he does well.
Beasley was watched several times by the Rangers management team towards the end of last season, although reports at the time said they were looking at his City team-mate, the Belgian striker Emile Mpenza.
Reyna reckons his countryman - who played in a 2006 1-1 draw against Scotland at Hampden while preparing for the World Cup Finals - has all the attributes to play in the SPL, and he would love to see him at his former club.
"Damarcus is a great athlete, who is very quick and I think he could do a real job for Rangers," he said.
"He was at Man City last season and played well. He is fast and strong and he can take on defenders as well and do well defensively.
"I thought he might stay in the Premiership, but obviously the Man City managerial situation changed.
"Rangers would be a great move for him and I believe he could do very well in Scotland.
"He has a lot of experience having played at PSV and at World Cups with the US team."
Smith is looking to inject some real pace into the left hand side of the team and is well aware the club have never really replaced Peter Lovenkrands who quit last summer.
Beasley has been named in the US squad for next month's Gold Cup, the 12-team Concacaf tourney which begins on June 6.
He warms up with a friendly against China in San Jose on June 2 before their first Group B match against Guatemala in Carson, California five days later. The US will then face Trinidad and Tobago and El Salvador in their two other group games.
After the Gold Cup they will take part in the Copa America in Venezuela from June 28, although they are expected to announce a weaker squad for that.
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