Manchester United’s future has been thrown into doubt after one of the club’s top officials made it clear that current owners, the Glazer family, will sell up. Mike Edelson, who is the non-executive director at Old Trafford, told The Sun that they will be looking to leave at some stage. "It's no secret that, at some time, the family will sell," he said at a recent Q&A session at the Maccabi Sports Club in Prestwich, Manchester. And with this revelation, it is now believed this has opened the door for the Qatar royal family, led by Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, to seize their opportunity tio take control of United in a £1.5 billion takeover.

However, with Edelson’s comments it has given the first clear indication that the Glazers are ready to move on, having taken United into debt. It is also believed that the Glazers will almost double their money if they sell, having bought the Old Trafford club five and half years ago, for £790m. According to The Sun, sources have claimed that the Glazers are willing to sell so that they can pay back £252m of the £752m they have accumulated since being the owners at United.

"The belief is that they have already brought in extra finance from a third party in a bid to set the club up for a sale," one top city source was quoted as saying. Meanwhile, a Middle East finance expert has also said that Qatar holdings - who deal with business concerning the royal family - are waiting to strike to gain control of the Premier League giants.

"They have made tentative moves before with little success but this time it looks like they could be going for it," the source said. "Now they have landed the 2022 World Cup, the country wants to expand its influence in the game across the globe."