United to double Ruud's wages

Manchester United are set to double Ruud van Nistelrooy's wages by handing him a new contract worth almost £24 million.

The club hope a £90,000-a-week contract will help to stave off interest in the Dutch striker from Real Madrid.

Van Nistelrooy is currently midway through a five-year deal worth £40,000 a week, but the new deal will bring him up to parity with United's top earner Roy Keane. United hope to finalise the deal before the New Year.

Earlier this week former United star David Beckham and his Real team-mate Ronaldo said how much they would like Van Nistelrooy to join them at the Bernabeu. Beckham said: "As well as being a marvellous companion he is one of the best players in the world."

Van Nistelrooy has scored 95 goals in 122 appearances for United since his £19million move from PSV Eindhoven two-and-a-half years ago.

On Tuesday he scored in United's 2-0 Champions League victory over Stuttgart, which put him level on 28 European goals with Denis Law.