Liverpool boss
Rafa Benitez remains keen on
Real Madrid striker Ruud van
Nistelrooy.
The Sunday Mirror says Van Nistelrooy’s hopes of
landing a New Year move to Anfield hinge on the Dutchman accepting
a pay-as-you-play deal instead of the £100,000-a-week after-tax
wages he earns at Real
Madrid.
But while Liverpool believe
they can get Real to slash their initial £3million asking price for
the 33-year-old, they are not willing to match his salary at the
Bernabeu given his recent injury record.
Van Nistelrooy’s advisers have touted him around Europe in a bid
to safeguard his place in Holland’s World Cup squad.
An Anfield source said: “There is an interest in Van Nistelrooy,
but doing a deal will be very difficult unless something changes
financially.
“His fitness record is a big worry. There are some reservations
about bringing in a player who has suffered so much with injuries
given how the squad has been hit by injuries this season.
“It would be a gamble, so any deal must offer some value for
money otherwise it will not happen.”
