Beckham remains Arsenal's top target

Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger has admitted that Manchester United star David Beckham is his main transfer target for the summer.

Beckham was linked with a summer move to Premiership rivals Arsenal in the summer as his wife - pop star Spice Girl Victoria - wants to make a home in London with United using the £25 million transfer fee to sign FC Barcelona star Rivaldo.

United turned down a £20 million offer from FC Barcelona for Beckham last month and the 24 year old midfielder was dropped yesterday by United for their win at Leeds after a training ground row with manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Beckham was first linked with the London club last summer as United looked to boost their attempts to land Brazilian Rivaldo from FC Barcelona with an expected £25 million fee for the right sided midfielder who has only missed the twin titles of European and World Player of the Year by running second to the Brazilian ace in the polls.

Beckham and his wife are known to favour a move to London if the young star was to leave the treble winners and now the post-Euro 2000 finals transfer market in England could be dominated by the rumoured move between the two top Premiership contenders.

Arsenal are about to embark on major squad rebuilding with Wenger wanting to make Beckham a central midfielder in his new look side - a role that Ferguson has not trusted his England international with as United have won every trophy in sight over the last four seasons.