SC East Bengal, one of India's most iconic football clubs, are understood to be in talks with Premier League giants Manchester United over potential investment in the club.
The Red and Gold Brigade endured a nightmare 2021/22 Indian Super League, finishing rock bottom after picking up just one win throughout the campaign.
The club are currently on the lookout for sponsorship, and TV9 Bangla report that communication is underway with United over a potential partnership - with convincing the Red Devils to invest ahead of the upcoming ISL season said to be a 'key objective'.
India cricket legend Sourav Ganguly is thought to have already handed an informal proposal to United, with the current BCCI (The Board of Control for Cricket in India) President known to be a huge fan of the club with good contacts.
It's hoped that significant investment off the field may help East Bengal with results on it after continued struggles following their leap from I-League to the Indian Super League - struggles that led to finishing bottom of the league last season.
Talk of a possible deal isn't the first time Manchester United have been linked with investing in sporting projects in India. The club's co-chairman, Avram Glazer, has previously expressed an interest in owning an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket team, in what is one of the most commercially successful franchise competitions in the world.
There's already been investment in Indian Super League clubs from other Premier League sides, too. Manchester City have paired up with Mumbai City FC and Watford have invested in Odisha FC.
Source : 90min