Manchester United and Liverpool could both potentially be the subject of a sale in the upcoming months - and it is claimed that the Red Devils may already have an advantage over their rivals.
It was announced earlier in November that Liverpool owners FSG were seeking 'new investment' into the club, via a statement published by The Athletic's David Ornstein.
This was expanded on last week by FSG and Reds chairman Tom Werner, who told the Boston Globe that the ownership was 'exploring' a sale of the club.
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United, meanwhile, are currently seeking 'strategic alternatives', with new investment or a sale both on the table as potential options.
The Red Devils have been owned by the Glazer family since 2005, in what has been a controversial tenure.
Meanwhile, FSG, who took over Liverpool in 2011, have been widely acclaimed by Reds fans at times. However, their ill-fated attempts to enter the doomed European Super League last year, along with United, brought with it fury and anger.
Have there been bids for Man Utd or Liverpool?
Since news broke that both clubs were exploring a sale, many rich investors have been linked with takeover bids.
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It is unclear whether any concrete bids have been placed at this stage. However, in a major development, Saudi Arabia's sports minister told BBC Sport earlier this week that the state would support a bid for either club from the private sector.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal said: "We will definitely support if any [Saudi] private sector comes in, because we know that's going to reflect positively on sports within the kingdom.
"But if there's an investor willing to do so and the numbers add up, why not?"
Now, new developments could represent a major boost for United - and a blow to their rivals.
United could hold advantage over Liverpool in takeover race
According to the Daily Mail, Liverpool are in talks with consortiums from Saudi Arabia and Qatar over a £3 billion takeover of the club.
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However, the same outlet also says that sources close to the situation believe United represent a 'much more appealing prospect' than Liverpool, because of their global reach.
It is also claimed, therefore, that United believe they could convince investors to bid for them rather than the Reds, given the timing of the announcement that the club is seeking 'strategic alternatives'.
Club takeovers are never easy business, and it's likely that there will be plenty of developments to this story in the coming months.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Liverpool, Manchester United, Premier League, Saudi Arabia, Qatar