LONDON/NEW YORK: The Glazer family appears finally ready to consider selling Manchester United after 17 years of failing form and fan protests.

Media sources reported that investment bankers were being instructed by United’s owners to advise on a full or partial sale.

United have not won the Premier League since 2013 and have sacked a succession of managers who could not fill the void left by the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Reports of a possible emerged just as the club confirmed the immediate break with Cristiano Ronaldo who had criticised the club for its failure to match its reputation and history.

The Glazers used a leveraged buyout formula to acquire the club in 2005 for £790m taken on loan against the club’s own valuation.

United’s owners have acknowledged the need for new infrastructure investment to upgrade Old Trafford and enable the men’s team to compete once more at the top of the European game.

Any sale would need to value the club at anywhere between £5bn and £9bn to persuade the owners to sell.

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