( CNN ) -- Lebron James has revealed an interest in joining forces with David Beckham to bring a new Major League Soccer ( MLS ) franchise to Miami . The Miami Heat forward told reporters Monday that preliminary talks were underway with interest from both sides . `` David has become a good friend of mine over the last few years , and I think it would be great for this city to have a football club for sure . There 's interest on both sides . It 's preliminary talks but there is some open dialogue , '' James said . If a partnership is agreed it would be James 's second investment in the sport -- the 28-year-old is already a minority shareholder in English Premier League team Liverpool . `` I 've grown a great interest in watching the game ... it 's a pretty intense sport and my kids love it as well . I 've grown to the point where I know exactly what 's going on when I 'm watching the game . '' Beckham , who retired from the professional football in May , publicly expressed his desire to become a club owner at a book launch last month . Read more : David Beckham 'passionate ' about being club owner . `` I 'm passionate about staying in football and being an owner of a team is something I 'm passionate about . Miami is one of the places we looked at , and we 've looked at others too , '' the 38-year-old said . The former England international 's groundbreaking contract signed with LA Galaxy in 2007 gave him the option to create a new MLS team for $ 25 million . `` When I signed my contract six , seven years ago , my manager Simon Fuller actually got a clause in the contract that enabled me to have a franchise at the end of my playing career and obviously now I 've stopped playing , '' he said . Beckham and James appear undeterred by the city 's previous foray into MLS which saw Miami Fusion close for business in 2002 after only four years in the league . Today , the MLS supports 19 teams with a 20th club -- New York City FC -- set to launch in 2015 . James says research into the viability of a franchise is ongoing but he does n't doubt Miami 's potential . `` I think this could be huge , but you never know . I think this is a great town for soccer . There 's a lot of soccer players here and great youth soccer players here and people love the city as well so that will definitely help , '' he said . Beckham , as you would expect , was typically enthusiastic when quizzed last month about soccer 's long-term prospects in the U.S. `` It 's going to get better and bigger , '' said Beckham . `` Since I moved there , 11 to 12 teams have come into the league . I have seen the excitement of the people talking about soccer or football . ''
Basketball James has talks with NBA legend over MLS expansion franchise . James says talks are at preliminary stage but there is interest from both sides . Beckham revealed interest in owning a franchise last year . James says Miami is ` ` a great town for soccer '' with ` ` lots of great youth soccer . ''