Report: Glazers could halt Man United sale, eyeing future profits

The Glazers may be set to pull the rug from underneath those who submitted bids to buy Manchester United in recent months.

Members of the wealthy American family are optimistic about securing outside investments that would allow them to maintain ownership of the Premier League club, reports Mark Ogden of ESPN.

Manchester United co-chairmen - and brothers - Joel and Avram Glazer are confident the value of the team could double in the next 10 years.

The latest twist in this saga will come as a huge blow for bidders such as Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al Thani and British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe.

Both were involved in the opening two rounds of bidding and were reportedly invited to submit improved third offers by the end of April. Their initial bids were reportedly worth as much as £4.5 billion, below the owners' £6-billion valuation.

However, there's been skepticism throughout the process over the Glazers' intentions. In March, some people connected with the selling process reportedly feared the owners weren't interested in selling and were instead trying to boost the club's value.

The Glazers bought Manchester United in 2005 and have since become vilified among supporters for a perceived lack of investment in the club and Old Trafford. In November, the family announced it would explore "all strategic alternatives, including new investment into the club, a sale, or other transactions" to help revolutionize the team and its facilities.