Blackburn eye van Nistelrooy
Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce wants to bring Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy back to the Premier League.Allardyce is looking for a new forward after the departures of Matt Derbyshire and Roque Santa Cruz this month.
And, after persuading Nicolas Anelka to join him at Bolton in 2006, Allardyce believes the former Manchester United forward, 33, can be tempted by Rovers.
"Who'd have thought Bolton would get Anelka? Nobody," he said. "It would be a major coup if I could pull it off."
Van Nistelrooy spent five seasons at Old Trafford, scoring 150 goals in fewer than 200 games over five seasons.
The Dutch striker moved to Real in the summer of 2006, but he has fallen down the pecking order at the Bernabeu following the Spanish side's signings of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo in recent weeks.
And Allardyce has money to spend after selling Santa Cruz to Manchester City for £17m and Derbyshire to Greek side Olympiacos for £3m.
Van Nistelrooy, who is also thought to be a target of Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, is rumoured to be available for £1.5m.
However, Allardyce conceded that the his wages could prove a stumbling block.
"The sort of salary he would be on at Real Madrid may be beyond us," Allardyce said.
"But maybe he wants to come and play in England again and take less of a salary - then we'd be interested."
Meanwhile, Allardyce has ruled out a move for Michael Owen, who he managed at Newcastle during the early part of the 2007-08 season.
The England striker's contract expires at the end of June and the 29-year-old, who is available on a free transfer, has made it clear he wants to leave the Magpies for a Premier League club.
However, Allardyce said: "I just question the injury scenario.
"I need a striker that's going to be available for 30 games next season. That's not happened for Michael over the last four years."
