Spanish football giants Real Madrid were reported on Wednesday to be ready to make a £40 million ($60 million) bid for Manchester United star David Beckham. And the Sun tabloid said the 27-year-old England captain is interested.

"Any player would be honoured to be spoken about by Real Madrid," Beckham was quoted as saying. "They have great players and a great tradition."

Real's managing director and former Argentine star Jorge Valdano confirmed that his club wants to sign the England skipper this summer.

Valdano is Real's chief transfer negotiator and the man responsible for bringing superstars Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo to the club.

"The way Real Madrid have pulled off the biggest transfer market coups of the last few seasons, Beckham looks like the next big project for us," he said.

The Man U midfielder has been linked with potential interest from both Real and Inter Milan over recent weeks.

"There are always going to be certain rumours flying about and I'm used to that now," Beckham reportedly said. "I'm just enjoying being involved in a title race that is hotting up with three teams in the running.

"I just get on with my football and don't worry about anything else going on or being said around me."

Beckham signed a new, lucrative contract with Manchester United last year which takes him through to 2005 at Old Trafford.

But Beckham was involved in a dressing room bust-up with club manager Sir Alex Ferguson earlier this year when the fiery Scot kicked a boot which hit Beckham in the face, cutting his eyebrow.

Ferguson has also threatened to offload some of his stars this summer if Manchester United fails to win a trophy for a second successive year.

Only last week The Evening Standard of London reported that Real is also prepared to pay £35 million ($52 million) for Arsenal's French stars Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires. Real is said to be waiting to step in if contract talks between the French internationals and Arsenal break down. Vieira and Pires each have one year left on their current contracts.

Real has broken the world transfer record twice in the last three years with the signings of first Portuguese star Luis Figo and then Frenchman Zidane for 72 million euros ($72 million). Last year the Spanish club spent 45 million euros ($45 million) on Brazilian superstar Ronaldo despite a recession-hit transfer market.