Beckhams eye £10m London flat

They are not exactly short of somewhere to live. But rumour has it the Beckhams are about to add a prime piece of London real estate to their property portfolio.

They are understood to have viewed a £10million flat in Eaton Square, where neighbours would include Sir Roger Moore, Charles Saatchi, Nigella Lawson, Joan Collins and Elizabeth Hurley.

It is one of the capital's most exclusive addresses with prices per square foot the third highest in the world after Tokyo's Shibuya district and Hong Kong's Barker Road.

The couple's interest will prompt yet more speculation about the England captain's future with Real Madrid.

Eaton Square is just a couple of miles from Stamford Bridge, home to England's highest-spending club Chelsea, whose billionaire owner Roman Abramovich also happens to own a £28million home in the square.

It would be particularly attractive to Victoria, who is expecting the couple's third child, being just a well-struck free-kick away from some of London's most fashionable restaurants and designer shopping haunts.

And even though Beckham made his name in Manchester, he is a Londoner by birth.

The couple are known to have viewed a number of houses in the capital. Their spokesman confirmed they had been househunting in London but insisted they were looking for an investment opportunity rather than a home.

The Beckhams already own a £ 2.5million country home, nicknamed Beckingham Palace, in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, a magnificent £1.25million barn conversion in Cheshire, and a £1.5million 34-room holiday home on the Cote d'Azur with its own swimming pool and vineyard. They also rent a palatial home in Madrid.

The Eaton Square flat they are believed to be interested in is currently being refurbished to provide four en-suite bedrooms, dressing room, principal reception room, dining room with balcony, a hi-tech library/media room equipped with computer and home cinema, cocktail bar, laundry and staff quarters.

Spread over 6,459 square feet and with an asking price of £9.75million, it was once the home of 19th century philanthropist George Peabody, founder of the Peabody Trust.