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.
