David Beckham and other members of Manchester United's famous 'Class of '92' squad are
poised to front a £2billion takeover of the club, it has been claimed.
The takeover is believed to be funded by the oil-rich Qatari royal family and brokered by Beckham - who spent several months playing for Qatari-owned Paris Saint-Germain before retiring last season.
Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Nicky Butt are said to be in detailed talks to become the frontmen of a multi-billion consortium hoping to buy a 90 per cent stake in the club from Americans Joel and Avram Glazer, who purchased Manchester United in 2005.
The claims, made in The Sun today, have not been confirmed by the former players and a spokesman for the club said it had not received any bids.
Shares in Manchester United rose by $16.14 on the New York Stock Exchange yesterday amid speculation over the prospective takeover bid.
The club is currently valued at $2.6 billion, equal to £1.6 billion, despite having one of their worst seasons in living memory - including losing 3-0 to local rivals Manchester City on Tuesday
The club's underachievement this season has seen players past and present complain publicly about the way the club is performing.
Following the defeat to Manchester City, striker Wayne Rooney admitted that rivals are no longer afraid of coming to Old Trafford anymore because United are simply not good enough.
Rooney was left to reflect on another poor performance after admitting the team had lost their Old Trafford 'fear factor'.
Just over a week after describing their 3-0 defeat by arch-rivals Liverpool as one of the worst days he had ever had in football, the England international found himself trying to explain a similar scoreline at home to neighbours City.
The poor performance has led to rumours the club's owners may be happy to walk away.
'The Glazers have lost interest. Everyone knows the club is effectively up for sale,' a source told The Sun.
Middle Eastern bidders have reportedly approached the Glazers several times about a prospective takeover, with the only sticking point on each occasion being the price, the newspaper reported.
In 2010 the club were subject to a takeover bid from a local group dubbed the Red Knights, but they also failed because they couldn't meet the Glazers' asking price.
Earlier this week Paul Scholes gave credence to rumours of discontent at the club when he gave a scathing review of current manager David Moyes during an appearance on Sky Sports.
Despite saying the club needs to stick by Moyes, Scholes was highly critical of the current crop of players and the tactics being deployed in the post Sir Alex Ferguson-era.
Despite rumours that the 'Class of '92' players may be involved in the purchase of Manchester United, Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs are also said to be close to purchasing Salford City FC.
In a move that may see the club renamed Salford 92 and Paul Scholes appointed manager, the club are believed to be aiming for Championship-level football within 15 years.
A spokesperson for Manchester United said: 'We haven't received any bids for the club. If we had we would have informed the New York Stock Exchange.'
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