Beckham tops the speculation charts

With just over two weeks left until the transfer window opens, Real Madrid8217;s David Beckham is top of the speculation league as Europe...

With just over two weeks left until the transfer window opens, Real Madrid8217;s David Beckham is top of the speculation league as Europe8217;s big clubs prepare for next season.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Bayern Munich have already agreed deals in advance for Robin van Persie, fellow Dutchman Arjen Robben and Iran striker Vahid Hashemian respectively, while Brazil8217;s Rivaldo, a free agent, is touting for a club.

But bigger transfer deals could well be on the way and few are attracting the kind of intense speculation as that generated in Britain by the possible Premier League return of Beckham.

The England captain8217;s high-profile move from Manchester United to Real for 40 million last year was heralded as a new lease of life. The move looked good for Beckham, whose relationship with United manager Alex Ferguson had soured, and for Real, who acquired the most marketable commodity in a global soccer business.

Chelsea, buoyed by the huge wealth of Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, are tipped as the most likely destination for the Londoner.

Beckham, who turns 29 on Sunday, could hardly return to United while Ferguson remains in charge and Beckham8217;s combined transfer fee and wage demands would be tough to swallow for the money men at champions Arsenal.

nbsp;	THE BUZZ

		nbsp;	8226; Beckham might leave Real Madrid and Chelsea seem his most likely destination 8226; 8216;Hands-off8217; warning sent to Real and Barcelona, who were both looking for Man U8217;s Nistelrooy 8226; Trezeguet set to leave Juventus, new home not decided yet 8226; AS Roma8217;s Francesco Totti has been linked with Real as well 8226; Brazil8217;s Rivaldo, released by AC Milan, is a free agent	nbsp;

United8217;s Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has also been sufficiently drawn into the rumour mill for the club to issue a 8216;hands-off8217; warning to Barcelona and Real. 8216;8216;I have written to the clubs concerned and told them Ruud is not for sale,8217;8217; United chief executive David Gill told MUTV.

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Spain, where Real have also been linked with a bid for AS Roma playmaker Francesco Totti, and England are not the only major leagues facing transfer speculation. In Italy, France striker David Trezeguet is widely tipped to leave Juventus.

Reuters