A Qatari group of investors linked to the country’s royal family are expected to make a formal bid to buy Manchester United in the coming days, with the deadline for the submission of bids this Friday.

United’s current owners, the American Glazer family, announced in November they are open to selling the club.

Paris St Germain are owned by the Qatar Sports Investments, but the group contemplating a United bid have no links to that organisation, with the asking price said to be in the region of £5-billion (R220-billion).

The ruler of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani is said to be a Manchester United supporter.

The country is known to be seeking more investment in sports on the back of what it deemed a successful recent 2022 World Cup.

At least four serious bids are expected for United. The others are likely to be from Englishman and Red Devils fan Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and consortiums from the USA and Saudi Arabia.