VFL Bochum 3-0 Rangers: Need for new faces exposed by another painful defeat

Rangers have confirmed they will hold talks this week with La Liga side Espanyol with a view to signing 23-year-old Spanish defender Raul Rodriguez.

Ally McCoist, who suffered a double blow at the weekend as his side lost 3-0 to Bochum while Kyle Lafferty returned home from Germany with a groin problem that will keep him out of the start of the SPL season, hopes to make Rodriguez his second signing of the summer following the arrival of Juanma Ortiz from Almeria.

Rangers' director of football Gordon Smith said: "He's a player we're considering. We've spoken to Espanyol and we'll speak to them again to try to come to an agreement over a fee. They've given us an idea of what they're looking for, so hopefully we can get something done."

Rodriguez played for Gramenet in his homeland before joining Barcelona-based Espanyol last year, making the breakthrough in his first season at the Olympic Stadium.

Lafferty, meanwhile, will be assessed by a specialist and the Ibrox medical team in the coming weeks but is certain to miss the start of the domestic season after suffering a groin injury at Rangers' training base in Germany.

McCoist said: "It was a little bit disturbing last night when we learned that Kyle has a problem with his groin. The doctors and the physios had a look at him and decided it was a niggle that wasn't going to clear up over here.

"So we have decided to send Kyle home and he is down to see a specialist on Tuesday to try to get to the bottom of the problem. We will know better when we get back from Germany but it is a little concerning."

The Rangers manager added: "It's a big disappointment for him and it's a big disappointment for us because he and Nikica (Jelavic) finished the season so well and we were hopeful they would start the season in fine form."

McCoist is desperate to shore up his squad after the frailties were exposed in Saturday's comprehensive defeat – the second loss of Rangers' German tour without scoring.

"I don't like losing any game and the disappointing thing was the standard of goal that we lost," said McCoist, who gave Ortiz another start. "In terms of the overall game I felt we were fine for 60 minutes or so. We had a chance to go one up through Nikica but the goalkeeper made a good save and then we lost a goal straight away.

"It's another 90 minutes for the boys and we are only 12 days into our pre-season. We definitely need to get one or two fresh faces in to help the lads and we will do that.

"It was disappointing to lose but we are certainly not too downbeat."

McCoist left out Madjid Bougherra, whose future remains the subject of speculation as he enters the final year of his contract and the manager said: "He was feeling his hamstring a little bit at training this morning so we decided not to risk him. The important thing is to have Madjid fit and ready for when we start our league campaign.

"We have not had an offer for him. He is a Rangers player and the one thing about Madjid is that he gives his all in every game, and I have no doubts that he will do that again.

"We are looking to strengthen a few areas and the defence is one of them."

Saturday's back four of Steven Whittaker, Kirk Broadfoot, the out-of-contract David Weir and Sasa Papac struggled against the German second-tier outfit certainly looked far from solid against the German second-tier outfit, and while McCoist retained a strong side on the pitch throughout the Scottish champions failed to impress.

The game started slowly before Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor punched clear a curling effort from Denis Berger and a powerful strike from Slawo Freier.

Home defender Lukas Sinkiewicz headed just over but Rangers had started to show some signs of improvement and Papac got a header on target, although they could not carve out another chance before the break despite some decent possession.

Neil Alexander came on at the break to replace McGregor and soon tipped Freier's low drive wide before Jelavic shot weakly after breaking clear of the German defence.

The home side, who had already beat Aberdeen 2-1 in midweek, took the lead in the 64th minute when substitute Daniel Ginczek slotted past Alexander following Bjorn Kopplin's low cross.

As Rangers attempted to retaliate, Whittaker shot straight at the keeper after a good run but the visitors fell further behind with 16 minutes remaining when Mirkan Aydin broke clear and slotted home.

Oguzhan Kefkir then hit Alexander's post before Anthar Yahia emphatically netted a rebound after the Rangers goalkeeper had saved from Aydin in the 81st minute.

It was a painful result for Rangers, who now face an even more difficult task when they face Champions League qualifiers Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday.

Rangers: McGregor (Alexander 46), Whittaker, Broadfoot, Weir, Papac, Ortiz (Hemmings 73), Davis, McCulloch, Wylde (Fleck 46), Naismith, Jelavic. Subs not used: McMillan, Kerkar, Hutton.