Caixinha in bid to lure flop Pena to Mexico

CARLOS PENA could be reunited with Pedro Caixinha in Mexico after the sacked Rangers manager made a move to land him on loan for new club Cruz Azul. The 27-year-old midfielder cost Rangers in excess of £2million when Caixinha signed him from Chivas Guadalajara in the summer, but he has struggled to convince despite scoring five goals in eight starts. Pena revealed last week that he had a ‘Plan B’ option to return to his homeland this summer, although he claimed his preference was to see out his three-year contract at Ibrox. Caixinha’s new club, whom he joined last month, have opened talks with the Rangers hierarchy over taking Pena on a temporary basis to Mexico City. Sportsmail understands the potential deal remains some way short of completion, with Rangers

likely to expect Cruz Azul to pay a significant chunk of the salary for one of their highest-paid players. Reports in Mexico also claim that a loan — with an option to buy later this year — has been discussed. Pena came off the bench to replace Niko Kranjcar late in last Saturday’s goalless Old Firm draw at Celtic Park. His last start under Graeme Murty came in the December 9 win over Ross County, when he was substituted at half-time. Caixinha takes charge of his first league game at Cruz Azul on Saturday and he wants Pena in before then, but swift progress will have to be made for that to happen. The player (below) is understood to be open to the move, backing up recent comments which he made about possibly abandoning his attempts to make a genuine impact in Scotland. ‘I have my contract and we will see what happens,’ Pena said last week. ‘But I would have no problem returning to Mexico with my family. ‘Like with any team, my mindset is to be as successful as I possibly can be and to do things right. ‘But I am not ruling out a Plan B option to return to Mexico.’