United: 'We'd look at £35m Becks offer'


Manchester United chief executive Peter Kenyon today insisted David Beckham remained a part of the champions' immediate plans - but admitted a £35million offer would be tempting.

After weeks of speculation that England captain Beckham would leave Old Trafford for Real Madrid this summer were denied by both parties and the player himself, Kenyon hopes to plan for next season with manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

However, he admitted an offer of that magnitude may disrupt the club's current outlook.

'I think we have to look at those kind of offers, it would be remiss not to,' Kenyon told BBC Radio 5 Live.

'The reality is that the process starts with Sir Alex and I sitting down and formulating a plan of what we really want our team and our squad for next season.

'The key is to work out how the team evolves so that we do not undergo revolution every four or five years.'

That evolution involves Beckham but United have, as Kenyon points out, coped with the loss of star names in the past: they won the treble after Eric Cantona retired.

'The success of Manchester United is about the team; David Beckham is an essential part of our team,' said Kenyon. 'But ultimately players retire, there is a life span and there will reach a time when we have to replace him.'

It appears Beckham will now begin a 10th season as an established United first-team player in August and Kenyon confirmed: 'We don't see any reason why not.

'We spent a good 12 months negotiating his new three-year contract and he is in the first year of that.

'David's career here has been pretty good for everybody, he has still got things he wants to achieve and I don't think there's any better place to achieve those aspirations than Manchester United.'

Of the Real rumours, he added: 'The two clubs who are reportedly selling or buying have both denied it and the player, who is an integral part of it, has denied it so I don't think we should fuel the speculation any more.'

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson believes it is irrelevant where his team leader plays his club football.

'He might improve but not that much. First of all it doesn't matter for England whether he plays in Manchester or in Spain or Italy because he will always play in extremely good football clubs.

'Today with the Champions League you play against other top players and really good football clubs and it doesn't matter for your development whether you play for Real Madrid or Manchester United, you are in a top, top side in Europe,' Eriksson said.

Meanwhile, plans are being made for Beckham to meet Nelson Mandela when England arrive in South Africa for their May 22 friendly.

Yeah, read that too. Stupid move from Kenyon. First denying selling Beckham and now putting a pricetag on him. :confused: Still don't think Beckham will go though.

35 million is a lot of money. No one would buy Beckham for 35 million so what's there to worry about. If anyone is stupid enough to give that kind of money away for a 28 year old then they're welcome to him.

Think about all the quality players and young up and coming players 35 million could buy :)

*Kewell
*Quaresma
*Mexes
*Robinson

Anyway... on a brighter note United are planning a 12 million bid + Barthez for Ronaldinho... which would then leave a vacancy for a new keeper which is believed to be Robinson :) well according to the Sunday Mirror... prolly bollox but who cares ;)

Peter Kenyon = The next Martin Edwards.... always thinking about the money...:f***: :f***: :f***:

well that's equivalent to saying "Real Madrid, u come and pay the money and take him, we don't mind". this comes after all the denial??!!:f***:
and even if beckham doesn't go this will unsettle him and i don't like this attitude.it's like alienating him. ok if madrid made a concrete offer on paper and then the board considered it that would still be ok. but why come out and quote a price for him??:rolleyes:
is it that the club wants him out? disgusting!

Today? This was aired yesterday on football focus. Even then the interview was pre-recorded.

yape.. i saw the interview where he deny about beckham transfer.. but now this.. hmmmm.....:confused: :rolleyes:

oh fer gawd's sake give it a rest.....of course they'll hv to consider that else they'll get the boot...they're a bleeding plc....

and look on the bright side....u can use that money fer a big strong quick lad alongside rvn....heskey

Heh. I could sell my Barbie bicycle bell and be able to afford Heskey.

now that u'd mention it.....mebe we'll throw in a world cup winner...

BERNARD DIOMEDE...fair deal

that's a disappointing comment.
Every team has players you just don't sell, and more importantly, every successful team has players you don't sell.

we cant sell dudek henchoz hyypia baros diouf owen murphy gerrard riise kirkland carragher partridge vignal mellor

Originally posted by shokz
Peter Kenyon = The next Martin Edwards.... always thinking about the money...:f***: :f***: :f***: Couldn't agree more, it's people like him who are ruining the game with their greediness

Peter Kenyon must only be talking to Real Madrid, coz I dont see anyone else who will fork out that kind of money for 1 player...

And with Beckham's large fanbase all around the world, this could be very tempting news for Valdano and the rest of them at Real.

Originally posted by MisH*The*Manc
Anyway... on a brighter note United are planning a 12 million bid + Barthez for Ronaldinho... which would then leave a vacancy for a new keeper which is believed to be Robinson :) well according to the Sunday Mirror... prolly bollox but who cares ;)

That would be a great offer, and I think PSG would pretty much have to accept that. How often does a world class french keeper get offered to a good french team. Ronaldinho is going to leave sooner or later anyways.

I still don't think Beckham is going. Even if Man Utd agree to sell him there's still the thing that whether Beckham wanting to go or not. And then whether Real will want to fork out £35m.

Originally posted by voetballiefhebb
Heh. I could sell my Barbie bicycle bell and be able to afford Heskey.
You play with Barbie dolls?HEHE!Agreed, tho!:D
Who in their right mind would dish out 35M for David-the-pighead-ckham

If anyone offered silly money for any player of course it would be considered. Even if Man Utd came in and offered £35m for Michael Owen (please, no ;) ) I'm sure Liverpool would consider it. Kenyon is just stating the obvious. But of course it's the England captain, who has been at the height of speculation recently so everyone jumps on it to sell papers.

Kenyon then says that Beckham is an integral part to United's plans, but that's not the bit that is picked up on by the press.

If United are willing to sell for 35mill then by by Becks. I think that 35 mill is a cheap price to pay for a move that will unlock the Massive Asian Markets for Real Madrid which will mean eventually Real will make a profit out of this move.