Manchester United's summer transfer plans could be affected by the Glazer's stock flotation delays. The Telegraph says plans by the Glazer family to launch a partial flotation of Manchester United in the Far East could be on hold until the autumn, a delay which will potentially restrict the club's ability to compete at the top end of the transfer market this summer.

The flotation plan, which is designed to dramatically reduce United's £439 million debt and annual interest payments of approximately £45 million, remains in place, but sources close to the proposals concede that early autumn appears the earliest suitable window for the IPO to launch.

An inability to float before the autumn would deny the Glazers the opportunity to generate new funds with which to increase Sir Alex Ferguson's transfer budget.