Football Federation Australia said Friday it had received an approach by an agent representing former England captain David Beckham to play some matches with an A-League team this season.
An FFA spokesman said discussions were at ''preliminary stage ... (but) the approach from David Beckham's people is another sign of how much the A-League has grown in stature on a global basis.''
Beckham would join former Italian and Juventus forward Alessandro Del Piero (Sydney FC) and ex-Liverpool and England striker Emile Heskey (Newcastle), who signed A-League contracts this season.
Beckham, the former England and Manchester United star, was earlier reported by the national broadcaster ABC and Australian Associated Press as being ''offered around'' to several A-League teams on a 10-game contract.
The reports said with the Major League Soccer competition finishing in two weeks, the timing would work for the 37-year-old Los Angeles Galaxy player.
Beckham's former teammate at Manchester United, Australian goalkeeper Mark Bosnich, said the A-League should pull out all the stops to secure Beckham.
''There's a golden opportunity right now to secure David's services in Australia, not just for 10 games but for a considerable period of time,'' said Bosnich, now an A-League television commentator.
''He is interested. He wants to come down ... so let's do everything we can to make it happen. There's a small window of opportunity with these things and you've got to ... seize the day, so to speak.''
Bosnich, who played 23 matches at Manchester United from 1999 to 2001, said he knows Beckham's capabilities.
''He's in outstanding condition, and if there's anyone you would want in your team to have the ball when you're 1-0 down with 10 minutes to go away from home, it's David Beckham,'' Bosnich said.
Melbourne Victory coach Ange Postecoglou said he welcomed the news of Beckham's possible stint, but denied any interest.
''That's great if he is. Would we be interested? Nah,'' he said.
Perth Glory chief executive Paul Kelly, however, said while the club hadn't been contacted by Beckham's agents, he'd be happy to consider taking him on.
''I don't know anything about it. I know he's being touted around, but there's been no conversation,'' Kelly said.
''As usual, I'll always say I'm happy to speak to anyone.''
