The architect of the Red Knights' attempt to prise control of Manchester United away from the Glazer family 12 years ago would consider putting a consortium together to try and buy the club now it's on the market.
But Gatley-born Lord Jim O'Neill, the former Goldman Sachs boss, would only get involved if the chances of success were strong and the Glazers lowered their 'unrealistic' demands.
United 's American owners released a statement on Tuesday night confirming they were open to new investment or a full sale of the club, but it is expected they will seek as much as £5billion to sell up.
READ MORE: United's next owners could divide the fanbase even more than the Glazers
The Glazers have been seeking investment in the club since the summer, with plans to redevelop Old Trafford and Carrington currently being drawn up, but O'Neill believes the decision to now go public is a sign they haven't had the interest they might have expected.
"[Those figures are] obviously what they’re floating, but I don’t think that’s realistic, especially as the few smart people that might be vaguely capable of putting those kinds of sums together can see the same information the Glazers can see," O'Neill told the Manchester Evening News .
"Anybody who has been in business and thinks of ownership of assets that people want, you don’t need to go to a public statement to attract buyers at a premium."
O'Neill has felt this moment has been coming in recent years, especially with the Glazers forced to abandon their attempts to enter the European Super League in spring 2021.
"As the years progressed I'm not surprised, if you look at the culmination of events starting the fiasco over the ESL, their ownership had got more complicated in their own heads I think," he said.
"I think they think Chelsea was bought for too high a price and United should be a premium. Now they’re slightly strangely and slightly desperately in my view, going so public that they can capture anybody who is daft enough to pay them the money they want."
O'Neill, 65, believes the Glazers' decision to involve The Raine Group, who were employed to manage the sale of Chelsea, to act as the club's 'financial advisor' during the process is an indication they would want a similar auction-style sale.
It could also act as an attraction for US investors, but O'Neill believes United's fanbase will be "pretty hostile to anything vaguely like a repeat of the Glazers".
"The only thing that will really work is some imaginative buyer who basically has a better purpose behind owning United and is prepared to pay the Glazers a lot of money. You can think of the number of people willing to do that in the world on less than one hand," he added.
O'Neill and hedge fund manager Sir Paul Marshall were behind the original Red Knights campaign in 2010, which sought to mount a £1.25bn bid for the club.
They would ultimately conclude that the takeover wasn't going to succeed, but former Goldman Sachs boss O'Neill would consider resurrecting his interest, although admits at the moment he finds it difficult to see a path to success.
"If I thought I could be part of some really value-based, purpose-based, better ownership of United, I would, but it would be very, very difficult," he said.
"I don’t want to put myself through everything that happened 12 years ago unless I think the chances of success are strong and going into it I think it’s very hard."
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