Van Nistelrooy move hangs on wages

Ruud 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.

Sunday Mirror Sport revealed last month that Rafa Benitez had identified the former Manchester United striker as a January recruit.

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.

He is now fully recovered from a thigh problem, but opportunities with the Spanish giants are at a premium now they have Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema, Raul and Gonzalo Higuain to choose from.

Benitez is interested in doing a deal that will add more firepower to his squad. And Liverpool are also willing to meet Van Nistelrooy's demand for a two-and-a-half-year contract - but only if he slashes his current wages.

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."

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