David Beckham

Pic. AP

Spanish giants Real Madrid have made England captain David Beckham their main summer transfer target, according to reports. The European champions are said to be preparing a �40m bid for the Manchester United midfielder. And Beckham has indicated he could be interested in a move to Madrid.

"Any player would be honoured to be spoken about by Real Madrid," Beckham said. "They have great players and a great tradition." Jorge Valdano, Real's Managing Director and the man responsible for bringing Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo to the Bernebeu, confirmed he was interested in signing Beckham.

"The way Real Madrid have pulled off the biggest transfer market coups of the last few seasons, Beckham looks like the next big project for us," he said.

Valdano insisted: "I don't want to speak more about Beckham at the moment because we have a huge contest against his team. "I don't want to be accused of saying things, which heighten the tension around these games.

"I would prefer that we only speak about football until these two games are out of the way." Beckham signed a new �70,000-a-week deal with United last season, which takes him through to the summer of 2005.

But he has constantly been linked with a move away from Old Trafford and a transfer to Real would net the England captain a six-figure salary.