Glazers ‘open to selling Manchester United’ with potential auction of club to be announced ‘imminently’

The Glazer family are reportedly open to selling Manchester United.

A report from Sky outlines plans to announce a call-out to potential investors that could lead to a full-blown auction to buy the Premier League club.

Investment options including a complete or partial sale, plus a potential ‘strategic partnership’ with third parties are said to be on the table.

Bankers have been contacted to advise on the process, it is claimed, ahead of an ‘imminent’ announcement.

The New York Stock Exchange roughly values United at £1.8billion but a sale would far outstrip that figure.

It would also likely top the £2.5bn paid by Boehly-Clearlake to purchase Chelsea from Roman Abramovich earlier in the year amid sanctions against the Russian oligarch.

Some reports have valued the Old Trafford club as highly as £9bn.

Manchester United fan and billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe has previously been linked with buying the club but said recently that he found the Glazers unwilling to sell.

The Glazer family bought the Premier League team over a period between 2003 and 2005 and is helmed by brothers Joel and Avram.

United’s decline from the top table of European football in recent years, combined with the saddling of debt by the family against the club, has led to deep unrest from the fanbase.