Tottenham attempted to make a deadline day swoop for Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy yesterday.

The Daily Mail says Spurs failed in a deadline day swoop for Van Nistelrooy, according to reports in Spain.

Harry Redknapp had enquired about the Holland international earlier in the summer only to be put off by his £90,000 a week current pay deal and doubts over his fitness.

But talks are said to have resumed over a £9million move in the run-up to Tuesday's deadline while Spurs were in talks to sell Roman Pavlyuchenko to several Russian clubs.