LONDON. Feb 1 (AFP/Internet): Arsenal are reportedly planning an audacious summer swoop for Manchester United and England star David Beckham, according to the London-based soccer website Football 365 on Tuesday.

Highbury sources are said to have admitted to Football 365 that they are confident of prising the England superstar away from Old Trafford because of the desire of Beckham’s wife Victoria — whose stage name is Posh Spice — to move closer to her family In the southern county of Hertfordshire.

The website went on to say that Beckham's relationship with United boss Alex Ferguson has become increasingly strained in recent months as the England wingers' hectic and increasingly controversial private life has fallen foul of the Scotsmans disciplinary code.

Ferguson is reportedly will-' ing to cut his losses and part company with the player whose carter he has nurtured since he signed him as a schoolboy nine years ago.

The alleged breakdown of Becksham and Fergusons rela-! tionship, coupled with Victo-> rias own work demands, have ‘ made a move to London — where t the midfielder had trials with ■ Division Three side Leyton Ori-| ent and attended Tottenham’s I school of excellence be jre | heading north — increasingly I likely and alerted the Gunners.

Meanwhile in another de-k velopment. West Ham on Tues-| day were reportedly showing in-| terest in signing United striker f. Teddy Sheringham. who has K failed to command a regular t first team place at Old Trafford E since signing for the club in f 1997.

The former Spurs striker. | who came on as a substitute to ■ score a late equaliser against • Premiership rivals Arsenal in a * 1-1 draw last Monday, is cur-

| rently involved in contract . talks at United, but is said to be | unhapny at having to spend most of nis time on the bench.

West Ham manager Harry | Redknapp told Britain's Daily , Mail newspaper: Teddy is a I class act and I've got to be inter-» ested in someone of his calibre." The newspaper also claims ’ that the 33-year-old Sher ig-ham, scorer in last seasons FA : | Cup final and European Cup fi-u nal. is also attracting attention from clubs in Portugal and : ■ Spain.