Man Utd considering Beckham sale

Manchester United chief executive Peter Kenyon has admitted that a growing frustration over contract talks with David Beckham has led the club to seriously consider selling their most valuable player.

According to newspaper reports on Thursday, the Old Trafford board are resigned to the fact that the 40-million pound ($57 million) rated midfielder was holding out until after this summer's World Cup before committing his future to the club or elsewhere.

"We are at that frustrating stage where we are close but not close enough to finalising the matter and, after several months of negotiations, you do reach a point where you look to conclude it one way or the other," Kenyon was quoted as saying in The Guardian.

Kenyon is aware that the 26-year-old Beckham will be a free agent in the summer of 2003 and from January 1 next year would be permitted to speak to prospective clubs about joining them on a free transfer.

Although Manchester United have reportedly offered Beckham a lucrative package of around £85,000 per week and a percentage of merchandise sales, a good showing at the World Cup could persuade leading European clubs to offer more for his services.

"I'm sure we are all frustrated about it. David hasn't said that he's not going to sign and we haven't said to him 'sign or else'.

"Now we have to decide whether we do this quickly or we put it on the back burner because we have to concentrate on the rest of the season," Kenyon added.

If the club believe there is a serious risk of losing Beckham on a free transfer, the club will have little option to circulate his availability.