Madrid - Real Madrid striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy will be out of action indefinitely and may need an operation on his troubled right knee, sports daily AS reported Friday on its website.

The Real doctors carried out stringent tests on Van Nistelrooy's right knee on Friday morning, without yet deciding whether he will need a cartilage or ligament operation.

According to AS, they now want to consult with doctor Steadman, the specialist who operated upon Van Nistelrooy's knee in 2000.

London- Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez will begin talks over a new contract with the club's owners next week.

The Spaniard, whose existing contract expires in 2010, said Friday he would discuss a new deal with Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr.

"I received a phone call from Tom Hicks on behalf of George Gillett also," Benitez said on Liverpool's official website.

"They are talking about a meeting with my advisors and a contract extension. This is very positive news. We decided to meet in the next week and now my advisors are in contact with them.

London, Nov. 7 : Chelsea is weighing the option of recruiting Michael Owen to cover for Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka.

London, Nov. 7 : Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo has said that Manchester United must go for Arsenal’s jugular on Saturday and end their faint chances of winning the Premier League.

“We want to win the title so we have to get three points there. I don’t know if it is tough for them at the moment, but they will still have 11 players, the same as us, and I know it will be difficult because it always is,” The Sun quoted Ronaldo, as saying.

Arsene Wenger’s injury-plagued side drew a blank against Fenerbahce in the Champions League on Wednesday, having also imploded by losing 2-1 at Stoke and drawing 4-4 at home to Spurs.

London, Nov 7: LA Galaxy star David Beckham is likely to be axed for England’s clash with Germany on November 19.

The former skipper, one cap short of Bobby Moore’s outfield player record of 108, is about to pay the price for LA Galaxy’s failure to reach the MSL play-offs.

It is believed that Becks, 33, will lack match fitness for the prestigious friendly in Berlin, as he will not have played a serious game for three weeks, The Sun reported.

London, Nov 7: Fallen England soccer idol Paul Gascoigne has been given a nine-week breathing space to file his late tax returns and fend off a bankruptcy petition by Revenue and Customs.

Gascoigne has not filed any returns for the past two years. The taxman is petitioning on the basis of an estimated 200,000-pound liability, The Sun reported.

At the London Bankruptcy Court, the case was adjourned until January 9 with the Revenue’s agreement.

Gascoigne’s solicitor Craig Montgomery told Deputy Registrar Kyriakides that his financial affairs were complex, involving interests overseas, and time was needed to submit returns and liquidate assets to meet his liabilities.