Primera Liga giant Real Madrid has been set to extend the contract with Dutch striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy to further two years until 2010, local press reported on Wednesday.

The former Manchester United star, who finished last season as the Spanish first division league's top scorer, will be offered a further two years by the club, with another year's option, on his current contract, according to AS sports daily.

Van Nistelrooy, 31, has scored 42 times for the reigning Spanish champions and will sign the new deal next week.

According to reports of Marca sports daily, the Spanish soccer giants could be looking to offset the cost of financing Van Nistelrooy's extended stay by selling Malian international defender Mahamadou Diarra.

(Xinhua News Agency November 22, 2007)