Manchester United have been running the rule over David Beckham's son, Brooklyn, with a view to offering him a place in their academy, the Guardian can reveal.

United's coaching staff have been monitoring the 14-year-old after inviting him to the club where his father made almost 400 appearances, winning the Premier League six times, the FA Cup twice and the European Cup.

Brooklyn, who was in the academy at LA Galaxy during Beckham's time in Major League Soccer, had a run-out with Chelsea at the start of the year before signing up for Queens Park Rangers' junior set-up.

Beckham took him into United's training ground in Carrington on Thursday and other sessions are planned before the academy staff establish whether the teenager should be given the chance to shine at the club where his father started his long and illustrious career.

Beckham was part of United's 1992 FA Youth Cup-winning team alongside the Neville brothers, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes before becoming an integral part of Sir Alex Ferguson's side for the next decade.

"Fergie's Fledglings" have started work on a book, also featuring Ryan Giggs, and Beckham has always retained his strong affinity with the club despite the fractious way his relationship with Ferguson deteriorated, as set out in the former manager's newly released autobiography.

Brooklyn's desire to follow his father into football is well known, with bookmakers offering odds of 12-1 that he plays for England, and his visit to Manchester is aimed at measuring his ability and helping to find him the right environment. It has been emphasised that it was not a trial, more a chance for everyone to have a look at one another.

Earlier this year, Beckham talked about the possibility of Brooklyn, or one of his other sons, becoming a footballer.

"As a parent, you always worry: 'Have they got the hunger that I had as a kid?' I'm as hard on my boys as my dad was. They always ask: 'Did I play well?' I'll say: 'You did all right, could have done better.'"