Decision time

According to those that know, Beckham will have required 2 weeks training prior to playing a league match - he has been doing the training, but at the moment, it looks like he won't be playing. However, even if the playing deal was done, the chances are that it would be next weekend before he would play a match anyway.

So if the wheeler-dealing is to be done, it will be done next week I guess with the target of next weekend for Beckham to take the field, or resign himself to not playing for 'Spurs at all. Meanwhile LA are lining up pre-season games that they expect Beckham to be ready to take part in.

The story has gone quiet recently, which may hide the fact that there could be frantic negotiations in the background - I hope this is the case otherwise a lot of hopes and expectations will be dashed.

When Spurs played Man United last week, Beckham was seen talking to England Manager Fabio Capello, there was quite a bit of shrugging going on which could well be interpreted as 'I am doing my best to get the deal done, but things are out of my control...'

Beckham won't play this weekend

With Harry suggesting Becks needs two weeks to be 'match-fit', and The Galaxy apparently digging their heels in about a Feb 10th return date, there is no chance that he will play against Man Utd this weekend at White Hart Lane.

According to Harry, he would be match fit only a couple of weeks before having to return to the States for pre-season training, and under the circumstances the 'loan' idea just won't work.

Beckham will be still able to train with the squad, but this helps no-one in reality. He will return to LA fully fit and raring to go, just in time to start.... pre-season training. What this training will be able to add to Beckhams time spent training with a Premiership club could be measured in a thimble... It's a pity that this opportunity may be missed if The Galaxy don't lower their expectations a little. If they want Beckham to co-operate, surely a little leeway given to the player now, would give them some leverage when he returns? The other side of the coin of course is they must realise what this means to Beckham, and to spoil the chance is not going to increase what their fans are calling his 'loyalty'....

Beckham in training

Beckham is hard at work training with the 'Spurs team in the hope that he will get the chance to take to the field with his new team, especially if that chance comes against his old team this weekend.

The Man United fixture looms with no definitive word on whether the contractual obligations have been worked out.

In the meantime, he is getting re-acquainted with old international team-mates Peter Crouch (pictured), Aaron Lennon and Defoe amongst others.

In other news, fellow MLS player Thierry Henry is back at Arsenal training with the team to keep his fitness levels up during the MLS off-season.
In the furore surrounding Beckham's move to 'Spurs, few seem to have noticed Thierry slipping in the back door at The Emirates. However, the plan is that he only train with the squad, he will not be taking the field in any competitive capacity.

Beckham goes for medical at 'Spurs

Contrary to the report yesterday that Beckham would not be able to appear for Tottenham, it now appears that the deal is not yet sunk... When interviewed after the FA Cup match yesterday, Harry Redknapp was still hopeful that a deal could be done. The stories about insurance appear to be a fiction, I would be very surprised if there was a financial block as Beckham would be quite prepared to dip into his own vast pockets to help finance the deal if necessary, as he did previously with Milan.

Looks like the Galaxy are once again playing hard-ball in negotiations, and as long as 'Spurs and/or Beckham can foot the bill, he may well be able to remain with Spurs until March. The same to-and-fro negotiations took place when Beckham first went to Milan, and once the money was sorted - the deal was done.

On the one hand, they obviously don't want Beckham to injure himself, but on the other, a couple of months in the acknowledged best league in the world is going to do more for his fitness than a MLS pre-season training camp. Added to which, Beckham playing in the EPL ultimately generates more interest in the MLS - even if some of that interest is from Galaxy fans who are annoyed with Beckham, all publicity is good publicity at the end of the day.

To those who think Beckham is not loyal, you have to ask why he is at pains to remain playing football even when he should be resting. Is it for financial gain? Of course not, Beckham is one of the very richest men in sport today, even Harry Redknapp recently questioned whether David might actually be a billionaire and in a position to buy a Premiership team outright by himself. Is it for publicity? again.. of course not, Beckham sneezes and cameras click - he does not have to take to the sporting arena - in fact he would probably get plenty of coverage turning up at basketball games, going shopping with his family or any other mundane task that gets the Paparazzi so excited.

So why is it that David Beckham pushes himself to the physical limit, to carry on playing football in the toughest leagues in the world when all his team mates are on holiday?

Firstly he loves the game and wants to carry on playing while he still can. He loves the challenge of playing first class football at the age of 36. He want to impress the England manager enough to get back into the England squad. He has enough funds to make this happen when finance becomes a barrier, he has enough determination to put playing for his country at the very top of his agenda. And some call that disloyal? Get real - you sign David Beckham and you sign one of the most determined men in sport - the MLS knew this when they signed him. If the Galaxy fans didn't know this before he came to LA, then they misunderstand the situation. When Beckham steps onto the field in Galaxy colours, he gives 110% - the rest of the time, he devotes his efforts to trying to get back into the England squad. If you want one of those players that 'retires' from international football when the team set up does not suit him, sign Thierry Henry...

Beckham won't play for 'Spurs

LA Galaxy have insisted Beckham be back in the US by early February which has scuppered any chances of getting insurance for him to play for what would effectively be just three weeks. According to Tottenham, Beckham will be able to train with them and provide a presence behind the scenes, but it is highly unlikely now that he will step onto the field to represent the Premier league team.

This has to be a disappointment to both parties, and whether the England manager will consider Beckham for another international on this basis is unknown. Also whether this will cause a problem between Beckham and The Galaxy (and the fans) also remains to be seen.

I am surprised at this outcome, and I suspect that it was The Galaxy's intention to sink the deal given the details of this story. They have left it too late for Beckham to seek another loan, yet they have made this Spurs loan a non-starter.

Beckham ready to sign for Tottenham

It is being widely reported that Beckham will sign for Tottenham over the weekend - Sunday is being named as the big day. Reaction is the usual polarisation that you expect - with celebrity being a large part of his life, commentators are not shy to give their opinion on this latest development.

this is undoubtedly good for Beckham, opinion is divided over whether it is good for 'Spurs.

Typically opinion is informed by how one feels personally about Beckham, the detractors think it is all about shirt sales, the more positive ones can see that Beckham could offer something tangible to the Premier League even if it is just for eight weeks.

Even after the eight short weeks, opinion will no doubt remain divided about whether the experience was positive or negative.

Galaxy allow Beckham to go on loan

Subject to terms, LA Galaxy are going to allow Beckham to go on loan between January and March this year. Inevitably this will concern Galaxy fans, but they must understand by now that Beckham's loyalty is unquestionable, sadly for them , his loyalty is to his national team...

Harry Redknapp and Tottenham are saying there is a 50-50 chance of this loan move coming off and the dealing will have to be concluded quickly for the move to become a reality. This sounds to me like the start of a negotiating stance - LA have responded with a list of demands including the requirement that Beckham's wage and insurance costs are borne by Spurs.

As long as the pen-pushers can reach agreement, there is still the possibility that Beckham could be in the squad in time to face Man United on 16th....

Latest on Beckham coming to Spurs

Apparently Beckham is set to join Harry Redknapps 'Spurs team on £120,000 a week for a loan spell - details are being thrashed out with LA Galaxy.

The main interest is around the possibility that Becks could be in the team to face Man United on 16th January - although whether they will play him that soon remains to be seen. Beckham has not faced a team of this calibre for a long time - whether he is up to speed has yet to be established - however his commitment is not in question...

Still speculation as yet, but the facts seem to be that Harry is willing and David is willing - the chances are that The Galaxy will have to accede to David's wishes (again...). This will need to be sorted in the next few days to make the loan worthwhile to both parties - I suspect that this could be very close to a 'done deal'.

Beckham for Tottenham ?

However unlikely it may have seemed a few weeks ago, there are suddenly a whole host of reasons why David Beckham could sign a loan deal with Tottenham Hotspur and Harry Redknapp.

Now that Sir Alex has bowed out, Beckham may be about to make a U-turn on his Manchester pledge (only to return to the Premier League in the red strip of Manchester United).

These are the poignant facts about a move to White Hart Lane:

• Redknapp tried before to sign Beckham on loan just last year
• Beckham will not come with huge salary demands - he will come to work hard and play football
• Beckham already has a mansion not 25 miles away from Spurs HQ
• His beloved Grandfather was a lifelong 'Spurs fan
• David attended the 'Spurs academy from the age of 10 before signing for Manchester United aged just 14
• 'Spurs would benefit from the addition to their squad who have domestic and European ambition
• 'Spurs coffers would undoubtedly benefit from Beckham's undisputed 'earning power'

The Galaxy have yet to formally agree to a loan signing, but will probably put up little resistance as long as Beckham agrees to return to Los Angeles in March for pre-season training. They know that a determined Beckham is not worth arguing with... It's not about shirt sales, it's about pushing the England manager to the point where he has to consider Beckham for a return to the England squad. This is by no means a done deal, it is pure speculation at this point, but quite a tantalising speculation from my point of view.

We will continue to bring news of any new developments in this area.