Liverpool look certain to swoop for Ruud van Nistelrooy in a desperate bid to resurrect the club's fortunes.

With Liverpool currently eighth in the Barclays Premier League, four places and some five points off a lucrative Champions League spot, The Sun newspaper believes Anfield boss Rafa Benitez is prepared to gamble on the Real Madrid striker in a last ditch attempt to qualify for Europe's elite club competition.

Sources in the Spanish media have reported that former Manchester United star van Nistelrooy, who harbours ambitions to play for Holland at this year's FIFA World Cup in South Africa this summer despite having officially retired from international football, has already been told he can leave Real as - with fellow forwards Karim Benzema, Raul and Gonzalo Higuain at the Bernabeu - he is no longer assured regular football.

Bringing the 33-year-old to Merseyside would represent a major risk for Benitez.

However, with the Spaniard convinced that van Nistelrooy is the perfect strike partner for Anfield favourite Fernando Torres, it is now down to the Dutchman to convince his potential employers that he is over recent injury problems and that he still has what it takes to shine in England.

Liverpool are also thought to be monitoring the form of another Real Madrid Dutch import - Rafael van der Vaart.

Until recently, it was believed he was surplus to requirements at Real, but he has since returned to action and, after impressing, observers believe Liverpool could now be tempted to offer the one-time Hamburg ace a loan deal until the end of the season.