Former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham looks set to take over as a judge on "American Idol" following Paula Abdul's abrupt departure.

Beckham, whose husband David plays ... sometimes ... for MLS team Galaxy is being wooed by Mr Idol himself Simon Cowell.

Cowell of course is also grooming Susan Boyle for her American debut in the fall.

Posh Spice, as Victoria was known during her days in the Spice Girls has been trying to break into America for some time now.

However, while her wafer-thin looks stood out in England, she has struggled to be noticed in America where there is no shortage of size zero waifs.

This could be her big shot at stardom and again leaves Cowell in the driving seat.

Come the fall he'll be launching two English icons on the U.S.

Beckham is in with a shot after Abdul quit in protest over the extreme disparity in pay between her and her male co hosts.

And truly, the difference in pay scale is shocking. On average, as I know to my cost, women earn about 75 per cent of a comparable man's wages. But poor old Paula was really being done.

She wanted a raise from the $1.5m she is currently on. Yes, this is obscene money but when you consider that host Ryan Seacrest was on $10m a year with an additional $15m over three years and that Cowell is on $30m a year, you can see her point

It remains to be seen what kind of money Cowell will offer Beckham.

But let's face it. If she has any sense she'll take the gig whatever the pay because "American Idol" will finally launch her in the U.S.

Watch this space!