American investment firm Carlyle are reportedly interested in buying a minority stake in Manchester United.
United have been on the market since November, when the club's current owners, the controversial Glazer family, announced that they were seeking "strategic alternatives" – which could potentially range from a part sale to a complete takeover.
Lifelong United fan Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who founded petrochemicals giant INEOS, and prominent Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani are both known to have submitted takeover proposals, along with Finnish businessman Thomas Zilliacus – but no one has yet met the Glazers' £6bn valuation.
Now, according to ESPN, Carlyle have joined a number of companies considering investing in United – who need to raise fresh capital for long-term needs such as the redevelopment of Old Trafford and the club's Carrington training centre.
Carlyle, who are headquartered in Washington, D.C. and were ranked as the world's sixth-largest private equity firm last year, have assets of around £300bn.
The report adds that two other American organisations – hedge fund Elliott Management and investment group Ares Management – are also interested in investing at Old Trafford.
In control since buying United for £790m back in 2005, the Glazers are among the longest-serving owners in the Premier League.
They have, though, repeatedly proven deeply unpopular with the United fan base, who continue to regularly stage protests against their regime and a perceived lack of investment relative to other top clubs.
The possible sale of United has gone to a third round, with a bidding deadline of April 28 set.
