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The Guardian media reports:
'Manchester United is in talks with marketing groups including WPP, Publicis and Omnicom about an ambitious global strategic partnership to drive the club's digital fan base to 50 million users.
'"We are a football club and a global brand, a media phenomenon, but at the moment we are not doing enough for our fans," the Manchester United group commercial director, Lee Daley, told MediaGuardian.co.uk
'"Our database is currently 4 million and we want to drive that to 50 million-plus globally within three years. Our future is community and content."
'Mr Daley said that he intended to form a "strategic marketing relationship on a global basis" with one of the four groups.
'"The right partner has to have global reach, it will be a network-based relationship and there has to be core strength in Asia," he added, speaking at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival.
'"We are a global brand currently attached to local operating capability."
'Mr Daley said that the club was set to complete research into its global audience that was likely to show a fan base of around 90 million.'