RAFAEL van der Vaart phoned Jaap Stam to offer his services to Reading FC.

Royals boss Stam made the extraordinary revelation at Wednesday's open day at Madejski Stadium following strong links to his ex-Holland team-mate.

Stam revealed that representatives of the former Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder have been in recent contact over a possible move to Reading, after van der Vaart was told he he is surplus to requirements at his current club, Real Betis, where he has one year left on his contract.

Stam told the Reading Chronicle: “Rafa has been linked with the club because he phoned us himself.

“I don’t really know about the wages situation. He phoned us and we’ve spoken a bit about it. I’ve also read certain things in the paper.

“But I haven’t spoken to Rafa personally and I don’t think Brian has either, we have only spoken to his agent.

“But you know how it works in football. Agents are putting things in the press as well and putting pressure on clubs to sign players by telling us they also have other options.

“We are not going to be pressured in these situations.”

Van der Vaart, who boasts 109 Netherlands caps and 25 international goals, is now looking for a new club and is believed to be keen on a move to England.

The 33-year-old played in the same Dutch national team as Stam for a number of years and both were in the side that reached the Euro 2004 semi-finals.

He was also a firm favourite among Spurs fans during a successful spell at White Hart Lane between 2010-12 when he scored 24 goals in 63 league appearances.

Van der Vaart has spent most of the summer working on his fitness in Amsterdam.

If Stam is successful, van der Vaart would become the second ex-Real Madrid star to play for Reading in the past three years following Royston Drenthe.

However, Stam added: “We will look at the team and what we need at the time regarding players and certain positions.

“We want to bring in players who can help us.”

Roy Beerens, one of six summer signings so far, believes van der Vaart would undeniably add quality to the Reading squad.

Beerens, who played alongside van der Vaart for the Netherland, stated: “I played two caps for the national team and he was there.

“At that time he was great, a brilliant player.

“I don’t know how he is doing now, but if you look at the quality he has shown in the past and what he achieved, what else can I say?

“I have a lot of respect for him but it’s not a question for me but one for the manager.”

He continued: “It’s a rumour I think, but there’s not much I can say about it.

“He’s a big name and a big player and I have a lot of respect for him.

“But I don’t know if he will come here.”

Meanwhile, Reading have also been heavily linked with Manchester United defender Tyler Blackett and Middlesbrough winger Adam Reach.

It is believed Reading are preparing to step up their interest in Blackett, though Boro are yet to decide whether to allow Reach to leave the Riverside Stadium.

Reading host AFC Bournemouth in a showpiece friendly at Madejski Stadium tonight (8pm ko).