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David Beckham ... queue for his services in Australia growing by the day. Source: FREDERIC J. BROWN / AFP
Perth Glory and Melbourne Heart have come out strongly in pursuit of David Beckham after the superstar midfielder announced he'll leave LA Galaxy next month.
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Central Coast Mariners have also said they will investigate signing the 37-year-old, who says he will play his last game for the Galaxy in the Major League Soccer (MLS) final against Houston Dynamo on December 1 after six seasons in the US.
"I've had an incredibly special time playing for the LA Galaxy, however, I wanted to experience one last challenge before the end of my playing career," Beckham said.
"I don't see this as the end of my relationship with the league as my ambition is to be part of the ownership structure in the future."
Those words are music to the ears of A-League clubs.
Which club should David Beckham join if he comes to the A-League?
Perth Glory responded quickly on Twitter: "David Beckham has confirmed the MLS Cup final will be his last game for the Galaxy. The race is on.''
Glory owner Tony Sage had already revealed the club had "put its hat in the ring'' to sign the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star for a 10-game guest stint.
Perth has been in contact with leading agent Lou Sticca, who is involved in the deal to sign Beckham and was also responsible for helping to bring Alessandro Del Piero to Sydney FC and Shinji Ono to Western Sydney.
Melbourne Heart also came out on the front foot as chief executive Scott Munn said the club would be putting in a compelling offer to lure Beckham.
"I can't put a percentage term on it," said Munn.
"What I can say is that it's certainly real, we're putting forward an offer, it's compelling and the opportunity is here for him to come here.
"That is absolutely legitimate.
"Let's let David get through next week, play the final of the MLS and hopefully he'll have a win.
"Then I'm sure he'll assess every offer."
Beckham will officially call time on his six-season US stint after the MLS Cup final against Houston Dynamo on December 1.
That would potentially open the way for Beckham to play in round 10 of the A-League the following weekend and be available for the remaining 18 regular-season games.
In his time with Galaxy since signing in January 2007, Beckham has appeared in 98 championship games and his stint coincided with a period of unrivalled growth for both the club and the MLS.
At least seven of the 10 A-League teams have been linked with the superstar since news of his supposed interest in the Australian domestic league was broken last Friday.
The Mariners have also emerged as serious contenders, with ad guru John Singleton throwing his financial clout behind the club.
Singleton is understood to be offering five-star accommodation in Gosford and full catering for Posh and Becks.
"We're definitely lodging a pitch in the next day or two," Mariners chairman Peter Turnbull said.
Coach Graham Arnold added: "I know that he's a good guy. He doesn't have a massive ego that would destroy our team's morale and culture - it's not all about him."
Beckham's ability to further boost the profile of the A-League on the back of the success of off-season signings Alessandro Del Piero and Emile Heskey will be appealing to new FFA boss David Gallop.
Seven MLS expansion teams have debuted since 2007 while 15 of the league's 19 teams now play in soccer-specific stadiums - an increase of five before 2007.
Attendance at those stadiums are at unprecedented highs with an average of 18,807 fans attending games during the 2012 MLS regular season.
Exposure and recognition of the Galaxy and MLS are at all-time highs with the league maintaining lucrative television broadcast deals while the Galaxy reached a 10-year broadcast deal which is the most lucrative in MLS history.
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