Coates told Sky Sports News: “We’re at the very early stage of this. Whether something will come of it we don’t know.

“We’re interested in pursuing it. We’ll see where we can get with it.

“He’s a terrific player so if anything can be done we’d be very keen.

“It may be a loan deal – there are plenty of different ways of looking at it. It’s whether we can find something that suits all parties. The key thing is whether Ruud himself would be keen to come.

“We’re on the case. We’re making all the necessary enquiries and talking to the people that will influence this and seeing where it leads to.”