Glazer family considering possible stake sale for Manchester United after 20 years

According to the report, a number of stakeholders within the US-based billionaire family have been examining the prospect of selling some or all of their shares in the English Premier League football club.

Shares of the club, listed in New York, rose by 7% in after-hours trading.

The report stated that internal discussions initially focused on stake sales by certain family members, who are now attempting to persuade others to participate.

Manchester United did not reply immediately to a Reuters request for comment, and the Glazer family could not be contacted straight away.

The current deliberations come over two years after the family sold approximately 29% of their stake in the club to INEOS Group Chairman Jim Ratcliffe, handing the billionaire control of the club's football operations.

The Glazer family, which still retains a majority ownership of the club, has been heavily criticised by fans for burdening the club with debt, excessive spending on players, and delaying infrastructure investment.

Ratcliffe has implemented measures to restore United's performance, such as making redundancies and increasing ticket prices.

After failing to recreate the success the club achieved both on and off the pitch during Alex Ferguson's tenure, Manchester United's third place finish this season under Michael Carrick earned them a place in the Champions League for the first time in two years.

United shares closed on Wednesday at $21.11, valuing the Old Trafford club at $3.64 billion, based on data compiled by LSEG.