Apple have emerged as potential new owners of Premier League giants Manchester United.
The Old Trafford club were put up for sale by the Glazer family earlier this week after 17 tumultuous years at the helm.
Fans have regularly protested against the long-time owners who have presided over a period of significant decline both on and off the pitch.
The Glazers are said to be ready to part company with United as long as the sale represents the biggest ever for a sports club and want at least £5.8billion.
That would be well within the reach of tech giants Apple, whose net worth is placed at £2trillion and are giving consideration to owning one of the most iconic sports brands on the planet.
CEO Tim Cook is said to be well versed in the commercial opportunities United would provide the California-based firm.
Should Apple firm up their interest, they could team up with club legend David Beckham who is reportedly open to teaming up with potential bidders.
Beckham, meanwhile, currently co-owns Inter Miami and has taken a more hands-on approach in running the Major League Soccer club.
According to the Financial Times, Beckham is now open to discussions with possible buyers for United, who could include the former midfielder as part of a consortium.
A source close to Beckham revealed to the FT that the former England captain has been previously approached by potential bidders for United, although the Glazer family have never indicated that they want to sell the club until now.
Other suitors include British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe who is said to have already indicated he is ready to make an offer having undertaken a feasibility study earlier this year.
A boyhood United fan, Ratcliffe has owned French club Nice since 2019 but has never hidden his affection for the Red Devils.
Speaking last month, he said: ‘I’m a lifelong Manchester United fan. I was there in 1999 for the most remarkable match of all time in Barcelona. So, you know, the club is deeply etched in my mind,’ Ratcliffe said last month.
‘But Manchester United is owned by the Glazer family. I have met Joel and Avram, who are the nicest people, proper gentlemen, and they don’t want to sell.
‘The club is owned by the six children of the father, Malcolm, and they don’t want to sell it.
‘If it had been for sale in the summer, yes, we would probably have had a go, following on from the Chelsea thing.
‘But we can’t sit around hoping that one day United will become available.’
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