Bayern Munich president Karl-Heinz Rumenigge admits the club is considering a swoop for Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The 29-year-old Holland World Cup star's days at Old Trafford appear to be numbered after a falling out with boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
Rumenigge told Bild: "He (Van Nistelrooy) wanted to come to us in 2001 when his move to Manchester United had not been sealed.
"We will do nothing behind the backs of Manchester United - first we must find out if he really is on the market."
Bayern already have Dutch striker Roy Makaay on their books who finished last season as the Bundesliga's top scorer.
Van Nistelrooy is currently in Germany with Marco van Basten's Dutch squad. He played their opening game against Serbia and Montenegro as a lone striker but it was Chelsea's Arjen Robben who scored the decisive goal in the 1-0 win.
Holland face the Ivory Coast in Stuttgart on Friday.
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