Stoke chairman Peter Coates has confirmed the Potters remain keen to sign Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The prolific 33-year-old former Manchester United and Holland frontman will be out of contract at the Bernabeu in the summer and has been linked with a mid-season move away from the Spanish capital.
Coates told Sky Sports News: "We're at the very early stage of this. Whether something will come of it we don't know. We're interested in pursuing it. We'll see where we can get with it."
Coates added: "He's a terrific player so if anything can be done we'd be very keen.
"It may be a loan deal - there are plenty of different ways of looking at it. It's whether we can find something that suits all parties. The key thing is whether Ruud himself would be keen to come.
"We're on the case. We're making all the necessary enquiries and talking to the people that will influence this and seeing where it leads to."
Source: PA
