Britney Spears

Timbaland, who's crafted hits for Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado, wants to help Britney Spears reclaim her once-stellar career.

"I feel her pain, it really bothers me," the 34-year-old rapper-producer says in an interview in Entertainment Weekly magazine's March 16 issue. "I'm the type of person who tries to save the world. I just want to take her away, go overseas, and work (it) out."

Timbaland says he invited Timberlake, his "best friend" and Spears' ex-boyfriend, to be part of that plan.

"I asked Justin, 'How would you feel about me working with Britney?' I had to ask him that," Timbaland is quoted as saying. "I said, 'Would you do it with me?'"

The 26-year-old SexyBack singer said he would, according to Timbaland, who notes: "She's just gotta be serious."

Timberlake's spokeswoman, Sonia Muckle, referred inquiries to Timbaland's spokeswoman, Monique Idlett, who didn't immediately respond to a phone call Wednesday from The Associated Press. Gina Orr, a publicist at Jive Records, Spears' label, didn't immediately respond to an email message.

Last month, Spears, 25, checked into Promises Malibu drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in California, capping a week of bizarre behaviour in which she entered and exited rehab twice, shaved her head bald and went out clubbing with friends.

"I just want to hold her hand," Timbaland says. "I want her to be in my camp, to be around Justin. I need Justin to talk to her. Help her, please!"