Van Nistelrooy offered new deal

New deal: Ruud van Nistelrooy

14 April 2012

Ruud van Nistelrooy has been offered a new contract by Manchester United in a bid to keep him out of the clutches of Real Madrid.

The 27-year-old Dutch striker is on the verge of signing an improved deal at Old Trafford which is worth more than £60,000 a week.

Van Nistelrooy is halfway through an initial five-year contract, but United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is alarmed by Real's interest and keen to tie him up for longer.

The news that a deal is close to completion may be a timely boost to van Nistelrooy, who goes into tonight's Champions League clash with Rangers at Old Trafford without a goal in open play for six matches.

Ferguson even admitted it is starting to affect his premier striker but blamed the drought on Holland coach Dick Advocaat - who has said he will not play him against Scotland in the Euro 2004 play-off .

Advocaat has snubbed van Nistelrooy because he does not believe his partnership with Patrick Kluivert is effective enough.

Ferguson said: "I certainly think that has affected Ruud. Strikers are all the same. When they are not scoring they think they are not contributing and when they are scoring they think they are wonderful.

"He makes a great contribution to his linkup play and fortunately we have got Diego Forlan scoring for us at the moment."

A win for United tonight will give them nine points and on the brink of qualification for the second phase with two games left.

Mikael Silvestre returns to the defence after missing two games with a knee injury while Roy Keane and United's matchwinner at Ibrox, Phil Neville, are set to be restored to the starting line-up. They have been rested from the last two Premiership games.

Manchester United v Rangers, Old Trafford, 7.45pm tonight, live on ITV1

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