France

Report: Lyon Want Van Nistelrooy To Replace Benzema

Having agreed a deal to sell Karim Benzema, Lyon are aiming to sign a replacement from Real Madrid.

Jul 2, 2009 9:26:56 AM

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Van Nistelrooy - Real Madrid (Marca)

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Olympique Lyonnais hope to persuade Ruud van Nistelrooy to join them to replace Karim Benzema after Klaas-Jan Huntelaar rejected the chance to move to Stade Gerland, according to a report.

The French side are determined to waste no time in replacing their striker who has joined Los Merengues and believe that the Spanish club might hold the player they desire.

Huntelaar is determined to stay and prove himself at Madrid and it is also thought that Van Nistelrooy is not keen on leaving having just recovered from a long-term injury, Marca state.

But with so many big-money players moving the Bernabeu, some of the current first-team squad are going to be told that they have to leave or risk not being given a squad number.

Before any new faces arrived, Madrid had 29 professionals in a first-team squad that can only see 25 be registered and it was believed that the Dutch contingent would be the first to go.

Wesley Sneijder is refusing to leave, while Huntelaar is also reluctant, but Lyon are hopeful that the lure of regular first-team football and the Champions League could persuade Van Nistelrooy.

The former Manchester United and PSV star has also been linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur, but without European competition it is thought that he would not go to White Hart Lane.

Lucas Brown, Goal.com

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