Tottenham are closing in on a deal for Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy. The Daily Mail says Spurs representatives are understood to have held further talks with their Real counterparts on Monday over a £1.25million move to White Hart Lane for the Dutchman, who is 33 next month.

Despite concerns over his age and fitness, boss Harry Redknapp appears to have persuaded chairman Daniel Levy to back him in his move for the former Manchester United striker, who will command wages in the £70,000-a-week bracket, putting him among the top earners at Spurs.

Van Nistelrooy, who also attracted the attention of Fulham, has only just returned to light jogging after seven months recovering from surgery to his right knee, having damaged cruciate ligaments in the same knee in 2000.

Real are ready to let Van Nistelrooy go because club president Floretino Perez must shift players to make room for new arrivals.