Manchester United Owners The Glazers are now ready to a sell a stake in the club, MySportDab reports.
The Glazers are now in exclusive talks with US private equity firm Apollo to sell a stake of Manchester United.
According to reports, some members of the Glazer Family want out but brothers Avram and Joel will keep their shares and continue at the club.
This comes after new criticism of the Glazers’ ownership as fans threaten to protest by missing Monday’s Premier League game against Liverpool.
On Monday, United could end up starting the new season with three straight losses.
United’s share price increased quickly on the New York Stock Exchange recently as speculation about the Glazers selling got more serious.
The shares went up by 7% and closed at $13.69 (£11.36).
The Glazers selling a minority stake to Apollo is not expected to happen any time soon but until next month at least.
After first buying shares in Manchester United in 2003, the Glazer family became the majority owners in 2005.
MySportDab understands that Apollo may also include other investors to buy the stake.
However, the consortium will not include bidders that failed in their attempt to buy Chelsea football club recently such as Britain’s richest man, Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
On Wednesday, Ratcliffe’s spokesman confirmed that the 69-year-old would be ready to buy United if the club was available for sale.
Ratcliffe is a long time Manchester United fan, and would want to have full control of the club in the future.
The 69-year-old recently tried to buy Chelsea with a late bid but failed.
Ratcliffe tabled a £4.25billion offer to buy Chelsea but could now get Manchester United instead if the club became for sale.
According to the Daily Mail, Britain’s richest man has plans to buy the Premier League club when it’s ready.
Speaking to the Times, a spokesperson said: ‘If the club was available, Jim is definitely interested.
‘If something like this could happen, it would be based on a view of long-term ownership,’ the spokesman added.
The current ownership model shows that the majority control belongs with the Glazer family.
They bought the club in 2005, but have always received criticism from fans about their lack of support for the team and debts increasing every year.
