Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce has said he would love to bring Ruud van Nistelrooy to Ewood Park, but ruled out a move for Michael Owen.

The Rovers boss is in desperate need of striking reinforcements after Roque Santa Cruz and Matt Derbyshire both left the Lancashire club this month.

He has immediately set his sights on an ambitious move for Van Nistelrooy, who is set to be one of several Dutch victims of Real Madrid's unprecedented spending spree.

And, just as when he persuaded Nicolas Anelka to join former club Bolton, Allardyce sees no reason why a deal could not be done - assuming the ex-Manchester United frontman is willing to take a pay cut in exchange for regular football.

Allardyce said: "Who'd have thought Bolton would get Nicolas Anelka? Nobody did. But I went out and did it.

"It would be nice to do it with a Van Nistelrooy."

He added: "The sort of salary he would be on at Real Madrid may be beyond us. But maybe he wants to come and play in England again and take less of a salary - then we'd be interested.

"It would be a major coup if I could pull it off."

Owen is another fading star available for transfer this summer, and will not command a transfer fee when his contract with Newcastle runs out.

However, Allardyce is not tempted to take a chance on a player he worked with previously at St James' Park.

He continued: "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."

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