Old Trafford chief executive Peter Kenyon has all but tied up the £10m (€14m) deal, with just a few minor details to be sorted out before a formal announcement is made through the Stock Exchange.

At the same time, however, a candidate for the Barcelona presidency has made the acquisition of Beckham key to his election campaign, revealing that his representatives have opened negotiations with United.

Joan Laporta claimed he had “presented a project” to the Premier League champions to sign David Beckham.

The England captain has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford on and off for the last few months, even though he has pledged his loyalty to the club he joined as a trainee in 1991.

Laporta is one of the six candidates for the Barcelona presidency in the elections that will be held on June 15.

And he said at a press conference in Barcelona: “I cannot deny that we have presented a project to Manchester to sign David Beckham and briefly we will comment what the situation is.

“At the moment I cannot say anything more but I trust that we can sign him.”

Laporta said he was “waiting for news in the coming days” on Beckham after also revealing a deal to take Turkey goalkeeper Rustu Recber to the Nou Camp if he wins the elections has been “signed and closed”.

Laporta claimed it would not be easy to complete the signing of the England captain, who would command a fee of around £30million if United were prepared to sell him.

And interestingly he claimed Barcelona could have competition for Beckham’s signature, adding: “Dealing with a world-class player there are always going to be other clubs interested in him.”

The man who will be Laporta’s sporting director if he is elected, Sandro Rossell, added that the project “was liked” by Manchester United because “they believe it is solid”.

Moreover, he believes the conversations “are going well” and that the issue will be concluded “certainly before next season”.

However, Ted Beckham believes his son wants to stay with Manchester United and insists he has never indicated a desire to play in Spain or Italy.

The England captain, a United fan as a boy, has been on the Old Trafford club’s books for more than a decade and his father told the Press Association: “He is Manchester United through and through.

“They are the only club he has ever wanted to play for.

“At the end of the day he is a Manchester United player, he always has been and he always will be.

“As far as I know he wants to stay at Manchester United, but at the end of the day it is his decision.”

Barcelona and AC Milan have already shown a clear interest in acquiring the midfielder and while Beckham has previously stated his intention to stay at Old Trafford, he will realise his first-team prospects have only weakened as a result of Ronaldinho’s arrival and if Harry Kewell also joined from Leeds, one big name would be almost certain to leave.

Meanwhile, the decision to anoint former chief executive Martin Edwards as only the third president in United’s history has drawn a stinging response from fans’ groups.

Edwards was chief executive of United for 20 years from 1980, during which time he attracted widespread criticism for his attempts to sell the club to Robert Maxwell, Michael Knighton and latterly Rupert Murdoch-owned satellite broadcaster BSkyB.

Julian Spencer, chairman of the Independent Manchester United Supporters’ Association, said: “I find it strangely perverse that Edwards, a man who has tried to sell the club on more than one occasion, should be afforded a position of such prestige.

“I am struggling to think of anyone less fitting to represent the name of Manchester United.

“How he can be judged fit to take up a post held not many years ago by Sir Matt Busby is beyond me.”

Manchester United shareholders also questioned the decision, with Oliver Houston, spokesman for www.shareholdersunited.org, branding the decision “bizarre”.

He continued: “Perhaps United fans will one day look back on this bizarre decision and say Martin Edwards was the ideal person to have been given the exulted title of president – or perhaps they won’t.”