Blackburn Rovers FC

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Allardyce confirms Ruud link

27 Jun 2009 - 12:11:15

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Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce has revealed that he is interested in bringing Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy to Ewood Park.

The former Bolton Wanderers and Newcastle United manager is keen to sign a replacement for Roque Santa Cruz who moved to Manchester City earlier this week and has identified the former Manchester United forward as his man.

Allardyce told The Independent: "It would be nice to bring van Nistelrooy to Blackburn, but I don't know.

"It was hugely difficult when I brought Anelka to Bolton (in 2006) and it will be much more difficult now.

"The sort of salary van Nistelrooy would be on at Real Madrid may be beyond us. But maybe if he wants to come and play in England again and take less of a salary, then we'd be interested.

"We wouldn't be able to match his salary at Madrid even if there was no fee involved. But there's no doubt it would be of interest to me. I'd want to talk to him and it'd be a major coup if I could pull it off."

Van Nistelrooy, who will be 33 next week, has scored 58 times in 85 appearances for Real but seems certain to leave the Spanish capital this summer following the big-money arrivals of Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka.