The Glazer family have already begun speaking to Qatari investors as the Manchester United owners continue to explore a potential sale of the club.
Back in November, a statement confirmed that United were potentially open to investment or a full sale. The Glazers have been in charge for close to 20 years, with the late Malcolm Glazer first investing in 2003 before taking a controlling stake two years later.
The Qatari investors are not the only group interested in the club, with Jim Ratcliffe - Britain's richest man - registering an interest. Questions remain over the asking price for the club, and a lower figure could yet open the door for Ratcliffe to step up his own bid.
According to The Mail, talks between the Glazers and their potential investors from Qatar have already taken place ahead of the mid-February deadline for bids to be submitted. The private wealth fund from the Gulf state aren't the only interested party, though, with Ineos CEO Ratcliffe also among those potentially in the running.
The Qatari group are said to be separate from Qatar Sports Investment, who own Paris Saint-Germain. This separation would ensure United and PSG would still be permitted to compete in the same European competitions - something which clubs who share an owner are not permitted to do.
United's owners are believed to want £6bn for the club, but The Mail's report suggests a sum between £4m and £4.5m is more realistic. This could leave the door open for Ratcliffe, whose Ineos group currently own Ligue 1 outfit OGC Nice.
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"Manchester United plc, one of the most successful and historic sports clubs in the world, announces today that the Company’s Board of Directors is commencing a process to explore strategic alternatives for the club," a statement from the club read in November. "The process is designed to enhance the club's future growth, with the ultimate goal of positioning the club to capitalise on opportunities both on the pitch and commercially.
Ratcliffe's interest has been met with criticism from Greenpeace UK, who have urged the Glazers to rebuff any bid from the billionaire. “Accepting this bid would be an awful own goal for Manchester United," a spokesperson from the group said.
"Petrochemicals giant INEOS is just the latest fossil fuel company trying to use a popular sport to distract from their climate-wrecking business. With interests in oil and gas, plastics and agrichemicals, INEOS has a hat-trick of environmental harms to its name.
"They are top of the table for plastic production in the UK and are one of the loudest voices in favour of fracking. Manchester United should really question whether polluting their image and enabling blatant sportswashing is really worth the dirty money they would get.”
