BOLTON Wanderers are being quoted among the favourites to sign David Beckham, if the former England captain quits Real Madrid.

Bookmakers reacted to news that Beckham could be leaving the Bernabeu in the summer by quoting Wanderers at 10-1 to win the race for the signature of the iconic star.

The USA and Japan are the most fancied destinations for Beckham and his family, with Tottenham favourites with Ladbrokes to bring him back to the Premiership.

But Sam Allardyce's recent claim that it was wrong for cynics to scoff at the possibility of Wanderers luring the former Manchester United ace appears to have captured the imagination.

The Wanderers boss has made no comment on Beckham's apparent availability, but a club spokesman issued a stock response to the news, when he said: "We are always interested in quality players".

Despite the rampant speculation over his future, Beckham's people said negotiations were ongoing, contradicting a report that was run on an Italian TV station claiming Real's sporting director Predrag Mijatovic had said the Spanish giants would not be renewing his current contract.

The player's representative said last night: "We have spoken to the club this afternoon and as far as we are concerned a significant two-year deal remains on the table.

"We are meeting Real Madrid tomorrow and will sit down to discuss the deal further."