United Targeted?

Last updated : 02 September 2007 By Editor

NOTW:

Manchester United are the target of two staggering £1billion takeover bids.

Rival groups from China and Dubai are gearing up to launch moves for United in the next few months.

And they know the Glazer family — which owns the Old Trafford club — won't even consider any offer below £1bn.

The Chinese consortium have already had an offer of £850million turned down earlier this year-as Sport of the World exclusively revealed at the time.

But they are refusing to be discouraged and will be back with another attempt to own the world's biggest football club, which has a massive commercial market in Asia.

The Arab group — with connections to the Emirates royal family — have kept a low profile but are now ready to make their own move.

A United source told us: "The Chinese people literally have billions behind them and the Dubai group are not far behind.

"It could turn into a bidding war and that will push up the price. That will leave the Glazers facing huge pressure to sell.

"They have an enormous debt which was raised when they bought United and the temptation to cash in and make a profit of over 295m will be hard to resist."

A financial insider added: "The Glazers have publicly stated they are not interested in selling but even their resolve will be tempted by an offer close to 1.5bn.

"It's a phenomenal sum for a football club but it reflects fairly accurately United's worth.

"No other club has such a mass appeal as United.

"Globally, they have an incredible attraction and that's why it's no surprise a Chinese consortium are waiting in the wings. Dubai has already shown interest in Liverpool but United are the ultimate prize — and there will be influential people in that part of the world who would consider it a shrewd investment even at 1.5bn."