Chase on for Van Nistelrooy

Sir Alex Ferguson revealed three clubs are interested in signing Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are keen on the 30-year-old, butapparently according to Manchester United another as yet unnamed side has joined the chase.

"Real Madrid have shown interest and Bayern Munich have shown interest," revealed Ferguson, on a pre-season trip to South Africa, adding "I think another club have shown interest today but David Gill is going to fill me in on that one."

Van Nistelrooy's decision to hand in a transfer request comes as no surprise following his fall-out with Ferguson at the end of last season.

"Ruud has asked to leave and we have to consider that," said the manager. "Obviously I think something may happen."

Real Madrid appear to be leading the chase for Van Nistelrooy, one of only eight players in United's history to score 150 times.

The Dutch striker is reported to have agreed terms with the Spanish giants but Real's offer of £10m is thought to be well short of United's asking price.

Following a turbulent end to his club season with United, Van Nistelrooy headed to the World Cup with Holland but ended the tournament as an unused substitute in scenes reminisent of his last Old Trafford days after also falling out with the Dutch coach, as his country suffered a second-round defeat to Portugal.