David Beckham’s Inter Miami are due to make their MLS debut in four months’ time against the ex-Manchester United midfielder’s former club, LA Galaxy. And Beckham, who spent five seasons in MLS with two loan spells at AC Milan, is planning on assembling a side ready made to challenge for silverware.

Inter Miami have several issues yet to iron out. Firstly, the stadium. The game against LA Galaxy will be played at the Lockhart Stadium, which was the home of the now-defunct Miami Fusion, on March 14, That much is set in stone but work still continues on what will become Inter’s home stadium, Miami Freedom Park, which will cost 700m and is expected to be completed in 2022.

Ancelotti being targeted as Inter Miami coach

Secondly, the club needs a coach. David Moyes, Thierry Henry, Carlo Ancelotti and Gennaro Gattuso have all been linked with the vacant post. Moyes is a leading contender due to his Manchester United links but Henry has already agreed to take over at Montreal Impact. Ancelotti would be a major coup and the Italian’s current situation at Napoli is far from clear. The two also coincided at PSG when Beckham played there briefly in 2012-13.

James Rodríguez, Falcao, Mandzukic all linked

Thirdly, there is the need for a star name to launch the franchise. Real Madrid midfielder James Rodríguez is the player Inter desperately want and due to his status at the Bernabéu the Colombia midfielder could be tempted to make the move. Above all, Beckham said, he is looking for “players who are hungry, who have played at the highest level but who want to keep winning.”

Radamel Falcao and Mario Mandzukic fit that bill and both have been linked with a move to Miami. The Croatian, particularly, is in need of a new club in January.

Inter have already been busy building a youthful squad and have signed Matias Pellegrini, a 19-year-old prospect who has been loaned back to Estudiantes for the time being, Banfield forward Julián Carranza, also 19, and Venezuela under-20 international defender Christian Makoun.