Saudi consortium expected to join the race to buy Man Utd as Qatari stance revealed

A Saudi Arabia-based consortium is 'expected' to emerge as a potential bidder for Manchester United, as per a new report.

The Glazer family announced in November that they were exploring 'strategic alternatives' for the club, and did not rule out a full or partial sale.

The Athletic then reported that the club is worth $4.6 billion, as per its latest valuation, but transfer journalist Ben Jacobs has claimed to GiveMeSport that the Glazers want $8 billion in order to sell the club.

The family, led by Malcolm Glazer, took full control of United in 2005, with the final purchase price said to total £800 million. He led the day-to-day running of the club until April 2006, when Joel and Avram Glazer assumed control after he suffered a stroke.

Ineos, a company co-owned by boyhood United fan Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has declared its intention to enter the bidding process for the club - the sole party to do so at the time of writing.

But speculation persists over the possibilities of consortiums from the Middle East entering the race. In November, Saudi Arabia's sports minister confirmed that the state's government would support a private sector bid.

He told BBC Sport: "We will definitely support it if any [Saudi] private sector comes in, because we know that's going to reflect positively on sports within the kingdom.

"But if there's an investor willing to do so and the numbers add up, why not?"

Saudi consortium 'expected' to emerge as Man Utd candidate

The Athletic have claimed that Qatar have held a 'watching brief' over developments at United, as per sources.

However, they add that Qatar 'expects' a consortium from Saudi Arabia to emerge and challenge Radcliffe's anticipated bid, with the British billionaire viewed as a 'credible rival'.

According to sources from Qatar Sports Investments - the owners of Paris Saint-Germain - and reported by The Athletic, there is 'no intention' on their part to step away from the French giants.

QSi took over PSG in 2011, with Nasser Al-Khelaifi installed as chairman, and have since developed the club into a global footballing superpower.

They have acquired the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar in recent years - although a maiden Champions League title still alludes them.

However, Sky Sports reported last week that PSG's owners are interested in investing in a Premier League club, and claimed that Al-Khelaifi had met with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, although Spurs have denied that such a meeting took place.