L.A. Galaxy Anticipate David Beckham's Return As Landon Donovan Ponders Exit

The sporting icon who was unhappy being a very big fish in a small soccer pond wanted out, his fame too big even for Los Angeles and his play toward the end of last season decent enough to pique the interest of several big clubs in Europe.

The Californian homebody preferred that small pond. It was comfortable, predictable and gave him the best opportunity to succeed. Despite indications he might be ready to move abroad, he signed a new four-year contract in December.

A lot has changed in the past six months. An overworked, 35-year-old David Beckham ruptured an Achilles tendon, missed the World Cup and now appears to be in the decline as he strives to return to game shape. He needs the first-place Los Angeles Galaxy more than the team needs him. Landon Donovan is a bona fide star. He played well during a loan at Everton, scored three goals at the World Cup and now is the subject of daily transfer speculation.

It would have been hard to imagine last fall that one year later, Beckham would be in L.A. and Donovan would be in Europe. But that's where things appear to be headed.

On Wednesday night, shortly after making a token appearance in the MLS All-Stars' 5-2 loss to Manchester United, Donovan confirmed that there has been "interest from a number of teams" abroad. Manchester City, which is on tour in the U.S. and will play Inter Milan on Saturday in Baltimore, is one of them. The others are unknown, but Donovan's decision to reveal even that small bit of information is a sign that momentum toward a move is building.



"We have had transfer interest and we will have some time to think about it and see where it goes," he told Reuters in Houston.

Previously, MLS commissioner Don Garber had said that it was his "hope" and "expectation" that Donovan would spend the "rest of his career" in one of the Galaxy's boring all-white uniforms. In Houston, Garber softened his tone a bit.

"I hope that he will stay here for the rest of his career ... It's not my decision. It's Landon's decision and L.A. Galaxy's decision," he said.

Because Donovan is under contract, a foreign club would have to come up with a considerable amount of money simply to purchase his rights. That sum could exceed $10 million, not only because he's a quality player but because of his marketing value to the Galaxy and the league. As good as Donovan has been in MLS and with the U.S. national team, the number of foreign clubs willing to spend that kind of money on a 28-year-old American midfielder will be low, and several of them will be the kind (like City) that simply stockpile players.

Donovan and the Galaxy have a big decision to make.

Beckham, meanwhile, seems to be out of options. The only recent word of foreign interest in the former England captain has been from West Ham United, the London club that finished one spot above the Premier League relegation zone last season and whose co-owners, David Gold and David Sullivan, are former pornographers with a taste for the flamboyant publicity stunt.

A spokesperson for Beckham was quoted Thursday saying that there has been "no contact with or offer from West Ham ... David is happy at the Los Angeles Galaxy and has no interest in leaving, and is looking forward to returning to the team on Aug. 9."

Beckham has been in England -- he reportedly is running -- but plans to be back in California next month, Galaxy coach Bruce Arena confirmed in Houston.

"I believe there's a chance he can begin training by the end of August. At this point in time, there's no way to predict whether he'll be able to play this year or not," Arena told reporters.

"If you ask David, I think David would say 'yes', but certainly we need to be real smart about moving this forward." The Galaxy's regular season ends Oct. 24. The club, in first place with a 12-2-4 record, would have to go out of business to miss the MLS Cup playoffs.

"There's a possibility he could play toward the end of the MLS regular season, but at this point in time it would be difficult to say 'yes' or 'no'," Arena said.

This is the fourth year of Beckham's five-year deal. There have been flashes of brilliance, but he's spent most of that time either injured, hanging out with Tom Cruise or flying to London or Milan. When Beckham was playing well and being linked with clubs far bigger than West Ham, that five-year contract seemed like a ball and chain, a foolish and impulsive decision made for marketing reasons during a brief period when he was out of favor at Real Madrid. Now it's a saving grace, an assurance that he'll have somewhere to play if and when he regains his fitness.

Donovan's lucrative four-year contract is the opposite -- a decision that was a no-brainer at the time but now just seems puzzling. The obvious instinct when offered $2.1 million per year to play in your home town is to jump at it. But that instinct seems to have been contrary to the person Donovan was becoming. He spoke so often last year about his rebirth, his maturity and his growing confidence in himself and his game.

In that case, he should have bet on himself. He should have known he'd play well at Everton. He should have trusted he'd have a great World Cup. He should have been more confident that he'd cement his status as a world-class player and earn his transfer abroad. A short-term contract would have made this all so much simpler. Now he can only hope that one of the clubs he referenced Wednesday and the Galaxy can come to an agreement.