BECK OF THE QUEUE

Sensational book that could end dream of Sir David'

- TOM BRYANT

DAVID Beckham's latest quest for a knighthood could be scuppered by a new book probing his past tax affairs.

Author Tom Bower claims the "money-obsessed" footballer routinely sought advice to legally minimise paying UK tax.

The Manchester United and England star's hopes of becoming Sir David were dashed in 2014 after HMRC flagged concerns.

The book part of an exclusive three-day serialisation in the Mirror - comes as Beckham was unveiled last month as an ambassador to the King's Foundation, which sources said could give his knighthood credentials a boost.

He is known to covet the honour - so much so that Sir Rod Stewart last week took the mickey out of him at a do for the charity, saying: "David, yours is coming soon."

But Bower claims Beckham was less enamoured with the UK when it came to HMRC taxing high earners 40%.

The House of Beckham describes in detail how the midfielder sought to pay less UK tax, not least as he was "thrilled to be rich" and "terrified" by the prospect of having less money.

"Opportunities to legally avoid taxes abounded," Bower claims.

The author describes how a forensic accountant trawled through Beckham's accounts and was "baffled" by the complexity of their "opaque" financial set-up.

He had "effectively become a non-dom" upon his move from United to Real Madrid in 2003.

Bower claims: "Legally avoiding British taxes appealed to Beckham. As a non-dom in Spain, he was not paying British taxes on income earned outside Britain. And he was not paying National Insurance.