Manchester United hope an expected offer from a Qatari-backed consortium will spark a bidding war for the club that will see their £6billion asking price met.
A group of wealthy investors from the oil-rich state are expected to join Sir Jim Radcliffe in formally entering the process to buy the club from the Glazers.
The Glazers, who have owned United since 2005, want at least £6bn for the club, although the Qatari-backed group are understood to value it at £4.5bn. Radcliffe, Britain's richest man and chief executive of the INEOS chemicals group, was first to formally declare his interest in purchasing United last month.
Those behind the anticipated Qatari bid are said to be confident the Gulf State's ownership of French club Paris St Germain will not prove an obstacle to their pursuit of United.
Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) own PSG and under current regulations, the same group cannot own two clubs in the same competition, which could lead to a conflict of interest and compromise sporting integrity.
But the Qatari group looking to take ownership of United are said to have their own funds to proceed with the purchase, rather than relying on QSI - the sovereign wealth of the state.
The Emir of Qatar, Sheik Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, is a committed United fan and has been advised in recent months by his financial consultants to consider investing in the area around Old Trafford.
The location is considered prime for such investment and the Sheik has been alerted to the potential for development, in the same way Manchester City's Abu Dhabi owners have redeveloped the area around the Etihad Stadium.
Another proposal put to the Sheikh is the construction of a luxury five star hotel near Old Trafford, serving those who travel far to games at the stadium, as well as the city of Manchester itself.
Former United players Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes opened the 133-room Hotel Football, overlooking Old Trafford, back in 2015, but the Sheikh's advisers feel there is a gap in the market for a more lavish hotel in the area.
The Sheikh is looking at the potential for building a state-of-the-art luxury hotel, with transport links to Old Trafford, to make it a destination point for visitors and tourists, capitalising on United's unique global pull.
The Raine Group, who oversaw Todd Boehly's purchase of Chelsea last year, have been appointed by the Glazers to oversee the sale of United and want a deal to be completed within the next few months.
