Soccer News: Real Madrid have made the opening gambit in their annual search for a galactico after their coach Carlos Queiroz said Manchester United's Ruud van Nistelrooy or Arsenal's Thierry Henry would be his choice if the club were to add another star player this summer.

Real are believed to have a working short-list of four names, with Henry at the head, followed by van Nistelrooy, Francesco Totti of Roma and Michael Owen.

Queiroz, who was assistant to Alex Ferguson at United, seemed to be leaning in the direction of an English-based striker when he told Radio Marca: "I don't think Totti is a priority. Van Nistelrooy and Henry are both mature and the Frenchman is at the very top of his ability."

The final say will belong to the president Florentino Pérez, but in the past he has been successful in bringing in Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and then last year David Beckham after the club had announced its advance interest in those players.

Arsenal are also believed to have turned down a bid of over £30 million for Henry from Chelsea over the summer.

Van Nistelrooy could also be a problem, the Dutch striker having recently signed a four-year contract.

Owen appears to be the most inviting target. He is stalling on a new contract, possibly while he waits to find out whether Liverpool will regain a Champions League spot next season.

He is a past European Footballer of the Year and eminently marketable, but Owen does not completely convince in Madrid and is probably a fall-back position.

Totti's candidacy has gathered pace since Jorge Valdano, the sporting director, said it would be a "dream" to see him play with Zidane, though he has since allowed that "Real already has important players in his role".

As Manchester United already know, Real's expressions of interest in a player count for as much as their denials.

They spent a month of the summer of 2002 denying any interest in Ronaldo, then signed him from Internazionale for £30 million.

And Pérez said he would "never, never, never" pursue Beckham eight weeks before signing him from Manchester United for £25 million.

Queiroz said he had to make sure he was not distracted by talk of new players. "We have to keep our eyes shut and be conscious of our obligations.

"I think that everyone with a responsibility to Real Madrid should do the same as the players who are being talked about aren't going to bring us any points."

PSV Eindhoven president Harry van Raaij has hit out at Manchester United for halving their offer for young striker Arjen Robben.

Van Raaij claimed he had agreed a £10 million deal "in principle" with former Old Trafford chief executive Peter Kenyon for 20-year-old Robben to join United in the summer.

But when the formal offer came in earlier this month it was for half the figure that had been previously discussed.

The development has almost certainly scuppered any chance of the deal going through and has left Robben, who turned up with his family at United's Carrington training ground last month, distraught.

"Of course Arjen will be disappointed," said Van Raaij. "He had already visited Manchester United and I had agreed a deal in principle with Peter Kenyon for him to join them in the summer.

"What I don't understand is the reason why their approach changed so much because when the offer came in it was about half of what we had spoken about.

"Given the difference between the two offers I do not see any way Arjen will join them in time for next season."

Glenn Hoddle approached Southampton about becoming their manager, it emerged yesterday.

The former England coach's imminent appointment followed an unexpected telephone call that he made to the club's chairman Rupert Lowe last weekend.

Southampton were in discussions with candidates including the former Marseille coach Alain Perrin when Hoddle picked up the phone and put himself forward to replace Gordon Strachan.

Impressed by Hoddle's keenness to return to the club he left under a cloud in March 2001, Lowe had no hesitation in opening talks with the manager he believes revitalised Southampton and who he was sorry to see leave.

Negotiations have progressed so quickly and smoothly that Hoddle could be in place at St Mary's by Friday.

Captain Teddy Sheringham is struggling to recover from injury in time for Portsmouth's home game against Chelsea tonight (Premiership Plus, kick-off: 7.45).

Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren will again be without George Boateng (ankle) and Ugo Ehiogu (groin) for the trip to Manchester United.

And Dunfermline boss Jimmy Calderwood has given up hope of having veteran striker Craig Brewster spearheading his front line for the visit of Celtic tonight (Network 2, kick-off: 7.45 p.m.).