Espanyol are chasing Hamburg striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Van Nistelrooy only moved to Hamburg in January on an 18-month contract, but Sport says contact has already been made between the Dutchman's reps and Espanyol.

Espanyol are ready to push through a deal for the former Real Madrid and Manchester United striker, if he can negotiate a release from his Hamburg deal.

Van Nistelrooy's agent, Roger Linse, has a property on the Catalan coast so making it easier for Espanyol to negotiate terms.