Liverpool are reportedly considering a summer move for Real Madrid [ Images ] and Dutchman Rafael van der Vaart.

Club officials met in Madrid before Liverpool's Europa League [ Images ] semi-final against Atlético Madrid on Thursday, with Real taking the opportunity to try to offload several players deemed surplus to requirements by the club president, Florentino Perez [ Images ]. Liverpool were interested in Van der Vaart, who was offered despite forcing his way into Manuel Pellegrini's plans this season, in a deal that would see Real recoup much of the €13m they paid Hamburg in 2008.

Van der Vaart laid low by thigh injury

Van der Vaart sustained an injury after damaging a thigh muscle in his left leg in Real's La Liga [ Images ] match at Real Zaragoza on Saturday, the club said on their website (www.realmadrid.com).

Van der Vaart, who was replaced by Raul after a quarter of an hour of Real's 2-1 victory at the Romareda, is an important part of the Dutch team that will compete at the World Cup in South Africa [ Images ] starting in June.

Real did not say how long he would be sidelined or whether he would be available for any of their remaining four league matches.