Saudi Arabia takeover interest in Manchester United is concrete, it has been claimed.

The Irish Independent reports Saudi Telecom are already United's longest-standing commercial partner, while last year they agreed a separate “strategic partnership" with the General Sports Authority of Saudi Arabia.

While no-one will go on record and say that there is definitive interest in the club from Saudi Arabia, many believe it has been considered.

If Saudi Arabia's wider strategy is abundantly clear, however, the Glazers', the club's owners, is not. Information doesn't tend to leak from that family so easily and they maintain a tight inner circle.

It should be stressed that the majority of sources maintain that United are, officially, not for sale.