RANGERS chief executive Martin Bain has held initial signing talks with the agents for South African World Cup pair Bongani Khumalo and Katlego Mphela.

The club website has confirmed press reports that manager Walter Smith is keen on defender Khumalo, 23, and 25-year-old striker Mphela.

Both players scored against France in the finals and are rated at £1.5m each. Khumalo captains Supersport United, while Mphela was top scorer in South Africa’s league last season. Those 17 goals earned Mphela the players’ player of the year award.

He started out at Jomo Cosmos, then had two years in France with Strasbourg and Stade Reims.

His return to South Africa was with Supersport United after which he moved to Mamelodi Sundowns in January 2008 after a disappointing 14 months.

Like Mphela, Khumalo played in all three of his country’s World cup matches.  A 6ft 2in centre-back, he would be up against club captain David Weir, Algerian international Madjid Bougherra and Andy Webster for a starting place at Ibrox.

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