MANCHESTER UNITED could finally be sold by the Glazers after 17 years of ownership.
Red Devils supporters have been calling for a takeover for a number of years.
But they may now get their wish as Sky understand the Glazers are preparing to announce they are “examining potential sources of outside investment”.
This could include a a “full-blown auction” which would bring about new owners – with a sale expected to be worth £9BILLION.
That would make United the most valuable sports team in the world, eclipsing the Dallas Cowboys who are said to be worth £7.23bn.
A statement from the club is expected “imminently”.
Investment bankers are already thought to have been called upon to advise the process.
If the Glazers do sell, it would end a decade-long feud between the family and the club’s supporters.
United have not won the Premier League since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013.
And they have not won any form of trophy since 2017.
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But there is one option which would see the Glazers remain at the helm – which is if they opt for a partial sale that raises funds for a redevelopment of Old Trafford.
They originally bought the club way back in 2005 in a deal worth £790m.
But the price of Premier League clubs has increased hugely in that time, with Chelsea sold for £2.5m in the summer.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, 69, a United fan, has been linked with an attempt to take control of the club after being a late entrant in the race for Chelsea — which was won by American Todd Boehly.
He runs multi-billion-pound chemicals giant Ineos, which owns Nice and Lausanne and a third of Formula One team Mercedes, as well as other sporting interests.
But last month he said he does NOT think he will be able to buy the Glazers out of Old Trafford because they did not want to sell.
He said: “I’m a lifelong Manchester United fan. I was there in 1999 for the most remarkable match of all time in Barcelona. So, you know, the club is deeply etched in my mind.
“But Manchester United is owned by the Glazer family. I have met Joel and Avram, who are the nicest people, proper gentlemen, and they don’t want to sell.
“The club is owned by the six children of the father, Malcolm, and they don’t want to sell it.
“If it had been for sale in the summer, yes, we would probably have had a go, following on from the Chelsea thing.
“But we can’t sit around hoping that one day United will become available.”
