Newspaper reports suggest American multi-millionaire Malcolm Glazer is poised to launch a takeover bid for Manchester United.
Glazer, owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers gridiron franchise, has already acquired a 19.2 per cent stake in United.
The 75-year-old has so far refused to declare an interest in buying the club outright.
However, the Daily Star on Sunday quotes top banker Mehmet Dalman, who has helped Glazer snap up around '140million of United shares, as saying: "The Glazer family - Malcolm and his sons Joel, Ed and Bryan - are interested in having a major involvement in United.
"The Glazers want to own the club - either through buying more shares or through management or board level."
The Mail on Sunday also cite unnamed sources as saying Glazer will soon approach United's board over a possible move.
He is expected to seek the support of United's major shareholders, Irish racing tycoons John Magnier and JP McManus, who own 28.9 per cent via their Cubic Expression company.
Would you welcome a takeover? have your say
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The Glazers are corporate raiders who do not know anything about football. I guess the Glazers' American Football team, Tampa Bay are doing terribly at the moment, so this is a distraction to pad their wealth empire. United don't want Americans in charge, these people don't know anything about real football.
I think that a take over of manu would be the downfall of the club primarily because then the club would no longer be the fan's club. foreign intervention in the way the club would be run would kill the mystique that is manu. the board would not be able to run the club as they have been doing and in all probability everything manu, from tickets to souvenirs would be overpriced and also the fans around the world would feel alienated. it would really be an injustice but thats the price you pay when you decide to go public.
United have confirmed they have been approached about a possible takeover. No bids have been made yet, but an announcement has been made to the stock exchange.
(indeed, and there should be a story about this on the United section now. Cheers - stand-in Ed.)