David Beckham is on the verge of completing a sensational loan move to Tottenham after the deal was given the green light by Los Angeles Galaxy, Goal.com UK can reveal.
Spurs expect to wrap up a two-month loan switch before the weekend after the MLS club were persuaded to allow Beckham to return to the Premier League on a short-term basis to build up his fitness.
The 35-year-old superstar is in line to make an emotional debut for the Londoners against former club Manchester United at White Hart Lane on January 16. The club hope to introduce him to the crowd at Sunday’s FA Cup clash against Charlton.
Spurs will pay the former England captain a salary package worth around £120,000-a-week on top of a loan fee – believed to be £500,000 – and expect him to be available for at least eight Premier League fixtures plus a Champions League clash away at AC Milan.
The move had been cast into doubt on Tuesday as it emerged that LA Galaxy were reluctant to let their prize asset leave on loan, while Spurs manager Harry Redknapp admitted to concerns about whether the deal would go ahead.
But MLS and Galaxy powerbrokers finally gave the go-ahead late on Tuesday after talks with Beckham’s representatives, who will now meet with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy to conclude the deal.
The Galaxy remain concerned that Beckham could suffer an injury during his time in north London after he suffered a torn Achilles tendon during his loan spell at AC Milan last season. Senior members of the MLS hierarchy are also worried that Beckham’s continual loan returns to European football have watered down their branding initiatives.
But the midfielder successfully argued that he needs to build up his fitness after hardly featuring in the last MLS season and has always favoured a move to Spurs over interest from several other suitors.
Beckham has been the driving force behind the move since he had lunch with Jamie Redknapp – son of Harry – at Harrods just under two weeks ago and expressed his desire to return to the club where he started his career as a schoolboy.
There had been concerns among some figures at Tottenham over whether the media circus that surrounds the former Real Madrid man may prove too much of a distraction, especially given the short-term nature of the deal.
But boss Redknapp feels the positives of signing Beckham outweight the negatives and believes his professionalism and experience in winning sides will be a huge boost to the Spurs dressing room as they look to mount an unlikely title challenge. There is also a feeling that he will be a positive influence on Aaron Lennon, the current first choice right midfielder at the club.
Redknapp has even been considering the prospect of making a permanent move for Beckham if his loan switch is successful, but that appears improbable as he would have to waive his right to buy an MLS club at the end of his Galaxy contract, which expires in November.
The talks that led to LA Galaxy’s decision to allow Beckham to return to Europe were smoothed by the fact they are owned by entertainment giant AEG, Spurs’ partners in their bid to take over the Olympic Stadium after London 2012.
It will be Beckham’s third loan switch since he moved to Los Angeles in 2007 after successive loan spells at AC Milan in the last two seasons.
He is expected to be restricted to a role as a squad player at White Hart Lane but is eager to prove to England coach Fabio Capello that he is still capable of performing at the highest level.
Beckham, who previously said he would only return to England to play for Manchester United, also feels an emotional pull to Tottenham because he grew up close to the area and his grandfather, a great influence on his career, was an avid Spurs supporter.
Beckham’s imminent arrival signals the departure of David Bentley, the player who was once tipped as his successor in the England team but has failed to shine at Spurs since his £16.5 million move from Blackburn in July 2008.
Birmingham, Newcastle, Fulham and Liverpool have all expressed an interest in the want-away 26-year-old. Tottenham would prefer to sell him on a permanent deal but are willing to accept a loan switch to make way for the arrival of Beckham.
“Bentley wants to move on loan or permanently,” said Redknapp on Tuesday. “He has had a long spell without playing and it’s a pity.
“It’s hard when you work hard and there’s no light near the end of the tunnel.”
Robbie Keane and Giovani dos Santos are also expected to leave the club in January, both on permanent deals, and Redknapp has been told that incoming transfers are dependant on players leaving the club first.
Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar is set to sign for the Londoners, as revealed by Goal.com UK last month, while Newcastle striker Andy Carroll remains at the top of the club’s wanted list.
Source: Goal.com