England legend David Beckham could reportedly be set to buy into a certain Premier League club, and it is not Manchester United.
The man who took Lionel Messi to Major League Soccer could now extend the list of teams he has a stake in, with reports linking him with English top-flight club Brentford.
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The ex-Real Madrid star was previously linked with an international ambassadorial role at United while Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani was in the running to take over the Red Devils' ownership.
However, the Qatari banker is understood to have pulled out of the race to buy United, with British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe expected to become a part-owner with a 25% stake of the Old Trafford outfit.
Beckham, meanwhile, could seemingly turn his attention elsewhere, but still in the EPL.
The former England international's son Romeo plays for Brentford's B team, which is said to potentially serve as an aid for the 48-year-old to purchase a minority stake in the club at an affordable price.
The opportunity for purchase is there because Brentford owner Matthew Benham is believed to be open to giving up stakes in the side.
"Given the recent rise and growth of our club and the changing shareholder landscape within the Premier League, it’s no surprise that there has been interest in investment opportunities at Brentford FC," a club spokesperson said, via SPORTBible.
"While Matthew Benham’s commitment to the club remains as strong as it ever was, it is only natural, and perhaps even essential, for us to carefully explore what new investment could potentially mean for the future of Brentford FC.
"We must not stand still and we remain absolutely determined to safeguard the long-term future of Brentford FC and to remain competitive in the world’s most challenging and successful league."
As owner of Inter Miami, Beckham captured the signature of Messi after "sneaking into Messi's dad's hotel room", and later saw the team win its first-ever piece of silverware as they lifted the coveted Leagues Cup in August this year.
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The former Rede Devil is also said to have played a crucial role in turning the Florida-based side into one of Major League Soccer's most valuable teams, raising the club's valuation to $600 million (R11 billion) after purchasing it for a sum of about $25 million (R473 million).
The side's worth further sky-rocketed after Messi's arrival from Paris Saint-Germain earlier this year, with it now having a reported valuation of nearly $1 billion (R18 billion).
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