Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd wants to lure David Beckham to St James' Park, according to a report in a British newspaper today.
The 31-year-old former England captain reportedly held talks with Shepherd at London hotel Claridges on Thursday, after which the chairman and Beckham's wife Victoria were pictured leaving separately.
Shepherd has, according to the Daily Mail, told Beckham he would be given the Magpies No 7 shirt once worn by Kevin Keegan plus a financial package that would see him take home £120,000 a week plus image rights that would earn a percentage of shirt sales.
Real Madrid are keen to keep the former Manchester United midfielder, with Fabio Capello saying he is "important" to the club, but Michael Owen's injury agony has made Shepherd determined to recruit a new hero for the 'Toon Army'.
Cynics will no doubt mock the idea of Newcastle signing Beckham but he could find the lure of a return to England too much to turn down and Shepherd has form for pulling off high-profile coups having signed Owen from Real just last summer.
In a statement this morning, the club said: "Newcastle United never comment on transfer speculation The club have always enjoyed a close relationship with Real Madrid and would never do anything to spoil that."
PA
