MLS sets deadline for L.A. Galaxy, Milan to agree on Beckham transfer

David Beckham has made no secret of his desire to remain with AC Milan after being loaned to the Italian power by the Galaxy. Michael Steele/Getty Images

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Los Angeles Galaxy and AC Milan have until Friday to finalize a transfer agreement for David Beckham, or Major League Soccer will not sign off on any deal, league commissioner Don Garber told reporters on Wednesday.

Beckham is currently on loan to the Italian super-club until next month and has voiced his preference to remain in Milan and effectively end his two-year relationship with the Galaxy.

"If David believes he wants to continue his career at Milan and Milan wants to purchase him, we're interested in accommodating that," Garber said. "Right now, it's continuing to go around in circles and it needs to come to a conclusion."

AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani said last week that the Italians made an opening bid for Beckham -- believed to be around $7.7 million -- and the bid was immediately rejected by the Galaxy. Garber disputed that claim, saying no official bid was made but discussions were held. But he did intimate Milan's offer was insufficient.

"AC Milan needs to decide what they want to do, make an offer that respects the value David has to the league and the Galaxy and the contributions he's made to the league and will continue to make," Garber said.

If the Galaxy and Milan do not agree on a fee before Beckham's loan deal expires on March 8, the English superstar will return to Los Angeles for the 2009 MLS season.

That prospect isn't an ideal scenario, either, since Beckham's dedication may come into question. Ultimately, he has a clause in his contract that allows him to leave the Galaxy after the '09 season, three years into his five-year deal, as first reported by SI.com's Grant Wahl.

Beckham's representatives negotiated a loan deal with AC Milan at the close of the MLS season last November. At the time it was believed Beckham wanted to stay in shape during the MLS offseason in order to stay in the English national-team picture. Beckham's ultimate goal is to make the England squad for the 2010 World Cup, which would be his fourth.

"We made a decision to loan David to Milan because we believed it was in his best interest to stay in shape during a long offseason," Garber said. "We have a lot of respect for what David has done to help the league, yet we wanted to accommodate his request and I believe we were genuine in doing that."

The Galaxy have failed to make the playoffs in Beckham's two seasons with the team, but his presence undoubtedly has raised the profile of MLS internationally. His No. 23 L.A. jersey was the top seller in the world last year and the league has enjoyed an unprecedented coverage from the international press. Additionally, a record number of MLS matches were broadcast on ESPN last year.

"This league is starting in a little over a month and we need to get to our business for the 2009 season, from the television and fan perspective," Garber said. "This needs resolution."