Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp says he could abandon his attempt to sign David Beckham on loan if Los Angeles Galaxy insist on his return by mid-February.Redknapp said it would be a "waste of time" to continue trying for a deal if Beckham's time with Spurs, scheduled to end on 10 February, was not extended.
Galaxy want the 35-year-old back ahead of their season opener on 15 March.
Tottenham, who face Manchester United on Sunday, had initially wanted Beckham until the summer, Redknapp revealed.
Beckham began training with Spurs on Tuesday this week and is believed to be keen to play for Tottenham before returning to the Galaxy for their opening match of the Major League Soccer season against the Seattle Sounders.
I hope the time spent on this Beckham saga wont have distracted Levy too much
Spurned Chances
He was never in contention to face his former club and Premier League leaders United at White Hart Lane on Sunday as he is about two weeks away from match fitness.
However if Galaxy were to stick to their position he would only be available for two Premier League games plus the FA Cup fourth round trip to Fulham.
"To do [until 10 February] would be a waste of time because, by the time David got fit, it would be a couple of weeks and suddenly you'd be into February," Redknapp said ahead of the White Hart Lane meeting against Beckham's former employers.
"I would have liked him to play, if he could have come to the end of the season it would have been great. I didn't know it was only going to be two months at best.
"When it was mentioned, I thought 'yeah, to the end of the season it would be good'. Then, suddenly two months becomes a month, and only if we got permission.
"By the time he's fit, just to throw him in for three or four games would be difficult."
Beckham, whose wife Victoria is
expecting their fourth child
in the summer, picked up an Achilles injury during his spell on loan in Europe with AC Milan last season - forcing him out of last year's World Cup in South Africa.
The midfielder, who has won 115 caps for his country, has yet to give up on playing for England again, and is hoping to catch the eye of England manager Fabio Capello with a two-month spell back in the UK.
The Italian had previously stated that Beckham was "too old" to be considered for future England teams, but subsequently suggested the player
could force his way back into his plans.
Beckham, who was born and raised in London, has plied his trade abroad since
leaving Manchester United for Real Madrid
in June 2003.
The six-time Premier League champion has not previously been tempted by offers of a return to England, turning down the chance to discuss a similar deal with
Everton in November
while stating that, as a Manchester United fan, such a move was "too close to home".
He also
denied any interest in a move to West Ham in July
and rejected the chance to be reunited with former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson at
Championship side Leicester
in December.
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport