SOCCER:DAVID BECKHAM'S chances of returning to the Premier League this month depend on his club, Los Angeles Galaxy, whom the 35-year-old has sought to reassure by declaring that he is only seeking a short loan move and would return to California in time for the start of the Major League Soccer season in mid-March.
That declaration is intended to allay any fears Galaxy may have that allowing Beckham to spend the MLS off-season with another club could pave the way for a permanent move.
The other factor that Galaxy are believed to be mulling over is whether the boon of having a hefty portion of the player’s wages paid by the borrowing club, and the possibility of Beckham returning already match-fit, would outweigh the risk of him suffering an injury, as he did when he went on loan to Milan last year.
Galaxy said last night that they were continuing to consider the issue. “A decision is still being made,” they said.
Beckham confirmed the other main motivation for his seeking a move is to bolster his bid to regain a place in the England squad.
“The loan is part of David’s desire to keep fit and make himself available for England again,” said his spokesman.
Several European clubs are known to be interested in securing Beckham’s services but Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has said his club would be the player’s preferred destination, claiming Beckham approached Spurs himself to ask whether they would take him.
However, Beckham’s representative indicated no concrete plans have yet been made. “At the moment we are waiting on the decision of LA Galaxy with regards to a loan move,” he said.
“The loan would be a short one until the start of the MLS season. David would then return and play a full season with the Galaxy. Tottenham are one of many clubs who are interested but as yet we have not got into any detailed conversations as we are waiting on LA Galaxy’s decision.”
Redknapp is eager to bring in at least one other player this month in addition to Beckham. He has indicated he would let David Bentley and Robbie Keane go and he may also raise funds by selling the full-back Kyle Walker.
The 20-year-old has performed so well while on loan with Championship leaders Queen’s Park Rangers this season that several Premier League clubs have approached Spurs about signing him on a permanent basis.
QPR manager Neil Warnock has urged Redknapp, who was at Loftus Road yesterday to watch Walker in action against Bristol City, to allow the player to stay put until the end of the season.
“I don’t think he’s ready for the Premier League yet, he’d be better off playing another 25 games with us,” said Warnock.
Chelsea’s Jeffrey Bruma admitted they only had themselves to blame after throwing away victory against Aston Villa on Sunday. Bruma was denied victory on what was his full debut for the champions as Villa snatched a last-gasp 3-3 draw at Stamford Bridge.
The 19-year-old said: “Everyone knows Premier League games are always fast, quick, strong, so if we don’t play our game then they will play their game and you will see that they will dominate us. It can happen. At the end, we were dominating them again and then you saw that we scored a goal.
“After, I think we should’ve kept the ball and been strong in the marking because the guy from Villa had a free header.”
The young Dutchman insisted he was not personally responsible for Clark’s equaliser, adding: “I was marking my man. I think everyone else was, or maybe someone forgot to mark his one.”
However, Bruma did struggle to cope with the outstanding Emile Heskey for much of the game, with the former England striker climbing above the teenager to head in Villa’s second.
“He’s a very strong guy,” Bruma told Chelsea TV.
