Manchester United are reportedly expecting formal bids to take over control of the club to be submitted next week.
The Glazer family have owned the Red Devils for the last 17 years, since the Americans completed their full takeover in May 2005.
However, after numerous protests and a lack of silverware in the post-Alex Ferguson era, Manchester United released a statement in November revealing that the Glazer family would consider a full sale if it was in the best interests of the club.
According to the Daily Mail, the sale of Manchester United has sparked “considerable interest” from potential buyers in the USA, the Middle East, and Asia.
According to the report, co-owner Avram Glazer met with a number of potential investors in Qatar during the World Cup, and the Red Devils expect formal takeover bids this week.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a Manchester-born billionaire and INEOS owner, is thought to be the current frontrunner to buy the club from the Glazers after expressing interest last month.
Ratcliffe was the first to confirm his interest in purchasing Manchester United, with a spokesperson for the 70-year-old telling The Times: “We have formally put ourselves into the process.”
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Ratcliffe tried unsuccessfully to buy Chelsea last year with a £4.25bn bid, and the club was eventually sold to American Todd Boehly.
The Glazers are reportedly looking to sell the 20-time Premier League champions for a price between £6bn ($7.22bn) and £8bn ($9.63bn), which is a huge fee over the club’s $3bn ($3.67bn) valuation on the New York stock market.
Manchester United, who are currently third in the Premier League table, return to action on Wednesday when they host managerless Leeds United at Old Trafford.
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