Spurs rule out van Nistelrooy move

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp all but ruled out a move to bring Ruud van Nistelrooy to White Hart Lane because of the level of the Real Madrid striker’s wages.

West Ham have reportedly made the Dutchman an offer of a short-term deal on 100,000 pounds a week while Turkish side Galatasaray, German club Hamburg and Stoke are also reported to be interested in signing the former Manchester United forward.

Redknapp admitted that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy would be reluctant to shatter the club’s wage structure in order to land van Nistelrooy, who is keen to be playing regularly in the run-up to the World Cup.

“Daniel, the chairman here, runs a good business and wouldn’t be paying that sort of money,” Redknapp said.

“It would break our wage structure by an awful long way. He’s probably worth it and is probably earning an awful lot more at Real Madrid. He’s been a great player and could still be that for someone.

“It’s a gamble because he has been injured. A fit Ruud van Nistelrooy is world-class but it’s a gamble as to whether he’s fit. If you have him for 18 months and he’s not fit it’s a big problem to have a massive wage on your bill.

“But if he plays and scores he can take the club to another level. I’ve always been a big admirer of him, he’s a fantastic player but that sort of basic wage wouldn’t be a possibility at Tottenham. Not a chance.”

Steve Bruce has insisted he will not allow Kenwyne Jones to leave Sunderland on loan and voiced his frustration at persistent speculation linking the Trinidad and Tobago striker with a move to Liverpool.

“Kenwyne Jones is not going to go on loan to anybody to help Liverpool or anybody else,” Bruce said on Friday. “I would be mad.”

Bruce did not rule out selling the striker but questioned whether Liverpool had the funds to pay the “huge amount of money” it would take for Sunderland to let one of their prize assets leave.

The Sunderland boss added: “I haven’t even got a price because I don’t think Liverpool can go there. It’s like me asking for Steven Gerrard on loan – I’ll try, maybe. It’s hugely disrespectful.”

Burnley meanwhile have signed France under-21 striker Frederic Nimani from Monaco on an initial five-month loan.

The 21-year-old becomes new Clarets boss Brian Laws’ first signing since taking over at Turf Moor.

Manchester City have loaned Slovakia winger Vladimir Weiss to Bolton until the end of the season.