[Rocol]

Reports claim that David Beckham could leave Real Madrid for a cut-price fee of around £5 million in the New Year.

The 31-year-old former England captain has failed to hold down a place for the Galacticos since Fabio Capello arrived at the Bernabeu in the summer.

And the nine-times European champions could reportedly cash in on Beckham when the transfer window reopens in January rather than risk losing him in the summer for nothing.

Beckham, who joined the Spanish giants from Manchester United in a deal worth £24.5 million in 2003, has yet to put pen to paper to a new contract.

And if he is unable to seal a new deal with Real by the start of 2007, he will be able to open talks with other clubs and leave the Bernabeu on a Bosman free transfer in the summer.

Beckham wants regular first-team football, but has been restricted to just four starts under Capello - he played just 13 minutes of Sunday's 2-0 'El Clasico' victory over Barcelona in Madrid.

The former England skipper, who has stated that he does not want to return to the Premiership, has been strongly linked with a possible move to the MLS in the US.

Looks as though he is getting to the end of his ' Stardom ' now, and ' Spotty Spice ' won't like not being in the Limelight.