SOCCER/Transfer news: Manchester United have confirmed they are willing to sell David Beckham. Peter Kenyon, Old Trafford's chief executive, had lengthy discussions with Barcelona yesterday in a move that will settle the argument about whether the club want to cash in on the England captain.
Sandro Rosell, a representative of a Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta, met Kenyon in London to ascertain that Beckham was available for around £30 million and later spoke to the player's representatives. Kenyon had hoped to keep the discussions confidential but last night found himself in the embarrassing position of fending off questions about an issue which, until now, he has insisted was purely speculation.
Speaking before boarding a flight back to Manchester, he said: "I don't want to confirm anything. But given that it (the story) has come out in Spain, I don't think you would look stupid writing it."
Whether Beckham would move to Catalonia remains unclear, not least because the club will not qualify for the UEFA Cup and thus, for all the Camp Nou's glamour, will not represent a profitable venue to promote his image rights.
Laporta has promised to sign Beckham if he is elected as president in the club's elections on June 15th but even that issue is steeped in complications. Lluis Bassat, an advertising agency owner beaten in the last election by Joan Gaspart in 2000, is considered favourite of the six candidates.
About the only certainty is that United have dropped their official stance that Beckham is not for sale and are working towards his removal from their payroll, two years before his contract expires. Alex Ferguson is under no illusions if he is to sign Ronaldinho and follow up his interest in the likes of Xabi Alonso, Harry Kewell and Paul Robinson he must recoup some of the money. Privately, the United manager decided a long time ago that Beckham was expendable.
Real Madrid, back in the Champions League next season, would appeal more than Barcelona to Beckham. However, several more of Europe's leading clubs, notably Milan, will also have noted yesterday's revelations. Valencia are possible contenders but, like Barcelona, do not have the pulling power of Madrid.
Meanwhile David Seaman's determination to prolong his career beyond his 40th birthday will result in him leaving Arsenal to move to Manchester City. After 13 years at Highbury he has decided to sever his ties with the club after learning that he would not be first-choice goalkeeper next season.
Arsene Wenger was willing to offer only the role of goalkeeping coach and a reserve role but, three months short of turning 40, Seaman believes he is still good enough to resurrect his international career. He was offered the chance to move to four Premiership clubs but chose City after Kevin Keegan offered him a one-year contract, worth more than £30,000 a week, with a view to extending that deal at the end of next season.
Ironically, Keegan had initially pinpointed David James, Seaman's natural successor for the national team, as his favoured replacement for Peter Schmeichel. However, once it emerged that Wenger was having doubts about whether Seaman was equipped to play another season at the highest level, Keegan began the negotiations that ended last night with official confirmation that the move had gone through.
The future of Paolo Di Canio is expected to be resolved within the next few days with the 34-year-old Italian striker joining the Premiership newcomers Portsmouth. He served under Harry Redknapp when the current Portsmouth manager was in charge at West Ham United, and now the pair are to be reunited at Fratton Park.
Redknapp has been given the go-ahead by Portsmouth's multimillionaire chairman Milan Mandaric to sign about six players in an attempt to ensure the south coast club do not become involved in a relegation battle in their first season in the Premiership.
