SVEN GORAN ERIKSSON has made a sensational bid to team up again with David Beckham — this time at Marseille. Ex-England coach Eriksson is set to take over as manager of the French club this week. And the Swede wants to land Beckham on a Bosman free from Real Madrid. Sven has told Becks he wants to give him a chance to revive his England career with a guaranteed starting place in France.
But Sport of the World understands Eriksson has a monumental task to convince Becks, 31. The former Manchester United midfielder is already considering a massive offer worth around £5million a year from LA Galaxy.
Italian giants Inter Milan and Premiership clubs including Bolton, Blackburn and Spurs are also bidding for his services. Inter want Becks to kick off a whopping £100m summer transfer bonanza to celebrate the club's 100th anniversary.
Becks is set to make a dramatic announcement about his future before the end of the month. He will stay at Real until the end of this season but must decide whether to sign a new deal or go on a lucrative free transfer although a return to these shores is less likely.
Madrid are resigned to waiting for Becks to announce his decision as they're powerless to force his hand. Despite token gestures of putting pressure on the Englishman in reality Beckham has been left alone to decide his future.
A meeting between Beckham's advisors and Madrid's board is scheduled to take place in the next 10 days and it could be Real's last chance to convince the superstar to stay.
An eventual move to the States is a given for Becks but it is whether he does it now or in a couple of seasons. It all depends on whether he decides to prolong his career at the top level and bid for an England comeback or cross the Atlantic to become the icon of US soccer-a switch which would effectively spell the end of his playing career.