The mansion on Ocean Drive where Gianni Versace was shot dead in 1997The Italian fashion designer was shot on the doorstep of his Miami home in 1997, and David and Victoria Beckham are said to be ready to make a bid on the villa in Ocean Drive.

According to reports in the Daily Mirror newspaper, the couple are among the big names set for an auction on September 17 where the 10-bedroom home will be up for sale.

Opulent: the pool area at the South Beach mansion. Versace spent $33 million renovating the house, which features a 54-foot mosaic pool lined with goldThe property has been used as an exclusive hotel for many years, and its owners failed to sell it for £82 million last year.

The report coincides with speculation that Beckham is planning to start his own US-based soccer team.

Extravagant: one of the many foyers in the South Beach mansionA spokesman for Major League Soccer commented: “It would be great to have David involved with us.”

An insider recently added: “The Beckhams’ people have enquired about the mansion, but it’s all very hush-hush.

“It’s an incredibly beautiful family home and oozes Gianni Versace’s style ideas. Posh would be in heaven. She’s positively drooling at the prospect of living there.

The Mosaic Suite, the room where Madonna is believed to have stayed while visiting, at the Versace mansion”It’ll be very much a second home for them because they intend to be based in the UK from now on. But if all goes well with David’s football venture they’ll spend a lot of time in Miami and want a spectacular house right by the water.”