Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce hopes to convince Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy to take a massive pay-cut and return to England.

The Sun says Big Sam admitted last month he might look to bring the ex-Manchester United favourite back to the Premier League.

Now he has made his interest known to the Dutchman and Rovers must wait for his response.

They are aware the 33-year-old hitman is on wages of around £120,000 a week at the Bernabeu. A deal could be done only if he was prepared to take a huge drop.

But Rovers are desperate to sign a big-name forward, having lost Roque Santa Cruz and Matt Derbyshire.

And Van Nistelrooy is likely to be one of several players leaving Madrid in the wake of their amazing summer spending spree.