Beckham future: Speculation abounds

The future of David Beckham is again under the spotlight as speculation continues over whether the Manchester United midfielder will soon be on his way out of Old Trafford.

Beckham was left among the substitutes by Alex Ferguson during Wednesday night’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid – the club rumoured to be chasing the England captain – although he came off the bench to prove his worth with two late goals.

Ferguson claimed Beckham’s absence was the result of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s impressive form in recent weeks, and the 27-year-old is no longer an automatic selection for the Scottish manager.

Whether Madrid want the midfielder to play alongside Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane is open to question, and if coach Vicente del Bosque is not interested in Beckham, it is difficult to think of many other clubs who could afford him.

It is impossible to know when Ferguson will step down since the Scot shows no sign of tiring of his job, but it is certainly unlikely he will be forced to move aside before he is ready.

His performance against Real will have put him in contention for a place in the starting line-up against Tottenham on Sunday, but with Paul Scholes returning from suspension, there is every chance of bench duty again for Beckham.