Inter make bid for Beckham

Manchester United have conceded for the first time that they may soon have to put David Beckham up for sale.

The admission came as it emerged last night that Inter Milan have made an official enquiry and would meet the England captain's wage demand of £200,000-a-week to go to Italy.

United have also told Inter that any move for Beckham would hinge on Brazil striker Ronaldo coming into the deal - a possibility the Italians are prepared to consider.

Contract talks between United and Beckham have stalled after eight months and, while the club still hope he will sign a new deal, chief executive Peter Kenyon does not expect that to happen before the summer.

Kenyon said last night: 'I don't know what will happen, to be honest. But you do reach a point where you can't go any further. You conclude it one way or another and we both feel that is where we are getting to.'

Inter's interest surfaced after general manager Giuliano Terraneo made a secret visit to Manchester to sound out United and Beckham's agents.

Beckham's advisers said his wage demands were merely a starting point to negotiations and it is understood that, if he were to stay at Old Trafford, he would settle for less.

Ronaldo, 25, currently training with Inter in Majorca, is on his way back to full fitness after a knee injury which kept him out more than a year. He has scored three goals in 10 games this season.