David Beckham could sign a new deal at Real Madrid before going to the World Cup. Buoyed by a run of seven straight wins under Juan López Caro, the new manager, the England captain practically closed the door on a return to the Premiership when he said: “I’m 99 per cent certain that I’ll be staying. We will begin talks maybe even before the summer — there is no doubt I want to stay here.”

Beckham’s present deal finishes at the end of next season and under Vanderlei Luxemburgo, the previous coach, there were few signs of him sitting down with the club to extend his contract.

Heskey charged

Emile Heskey, the Birmingham City striker, has been charged with improper conduct by the FA after his sending-off in Saturday’s Premiership defeat by Arsenal. He refused to leave the pitch promptly and made gestures towards Mike Riley, the referee. He then made his feelings plain to Phil Dowd, the fourth official, before being ushered away. He will be suspended for tonight’s FA Cup fourth-round replay against Reading, but may face further time on the sidelines.

• England’s opening match at the World Cup finals in Germany, on June 10 against Paraguay, will be shown live on BBC One, with their other two group matches, against Trinidad & Tobago and Sweden, on ITV1. The broadcasters have agreed that the BBC will get the first pick of the matches in the last 16 and the quarter-finals. Both broadcasters will show any semi-final involving England as well as the final.

Holloway ousted

Ian Holloway, the Queens Park Rangers manager, was suspended from his post yesterday. Holloway was interviewed for the vacant Leicester City job last week and is not likely to return to QPR. “We haven’t sacked Ian but we are concerned about recent results and the effect the speculation about him joining Leicester City might have on the players,” Gianni Paladini, the QPR chairman, said. Gary Waddock, who was reserve team coach, has taken over as caretaker manager.

Barton offer

Manchester City are awaiting Joey Barton’s next move after the midfield player announced that he was ready to reopen contract negotiations less than a week after requesting a transfer. Barton, 23, demanded a move after saying that the club’s £28,750-a-week contract offer was “unacceptable”, but has had a change of heart. “In hindsight maybe I shouldn’t have done what I have, but I’ ve done it and it’s up to me to sort it out,” he said.

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