Real target Van der Vaart

Van der Vaart has impressed in Schuster's homeland, helping to take the Bundesliga side in the Champions League and then inspiring a late-season surge away from relegation this spring.

Schuster told Kicker: "He is a very interesting player who is on my list.

"We all know about Van der Vaart's ability. The fact is, if we want Van der Varrt then we will get him."

The former Ajax starlet has previously said his dream is to play for Barcelona, but the plethora of fine attacking midfielders at the Camp Nou make such a move unlikely.

It is also hard to see him turning down the allure of Spain's most successful club.

The 24-year-old has scored 11 goals in 44 international appearances since 2001, but played only a bit-part role in De Oranje's World Cup campaign last summer.