Ruud van Nistelrooy is in talks with Championship club Burnley (Picture: Getty)
Former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy is in talks over a surprise return to English football as manager of Championship side Burnley.
Van Nistelrooy has not stepped back into the dugout since leaving Dutch side PSV Eindhoven before the end of the 2022/23 season.
The former United striker had won the Dutch Cup at PSV but left under a cloud in May citing a ‘lack of support’ from the club’s hierarchy.
Burnley are continuing their search for a replacement for Vincent Kompany after the former Manchester City captain was surprisingly pinched by Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich to replace the outgoing Thomas Tuchel.
Kompany had guided Burnley back to the Premier League at the first time of asking but struggled in his first managerial stint in the top flight, with the Clarets relegated back to the Championship after a torrid campaign.
Dutch media outlet De Telegraaf reports that Van Nistelrooy has already held talks with the club and is now closing in on a deal to return to English football for the first time since leaving United in 2006.
The 47-year-old scored 95 goals in 150 Premier League games before joining Real Madrid in 2006.
Vincent Kompany was poached by Bayern Munich at the end of last season (Picture: Getty)
Other reports suggest that Scott Parker and Craig Bellamy are also under consideration for the role.
Parker has not returned to management since he was sacked by Club Bruges in December 2022 after an unsuccessful three-month tenure in Belgium.
However, the 43-year-old has an impressive track record in the Championship having won promotion to the Premier League with both Fulham and Bournemouth.
Bellamy, meanwhile, is yet to take on a first-team managerial role but served as Kompany’s right-hand man during his time at both Burnley and Anderlecht.
Former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard was also linked with the post but is said to no longer be under consideration.
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