Tottenham have been forced to pull out of a deal for Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The Sun says Van Nistelrooy's recovery from knee surgery will not be completed now until the end of September at the earliest.

Spurs had hoped to land the former Manchester United star in a cut-price £1.25million deal.

Van Nistelrooy, 32, has been told he can leave Madrid and has been touted around several top European clubs, with Tottenham at the head of the list.