Manchester United are at the centre of renewed takeover speculation following reports of a move by Qatari buyers to purchase the Premier League side.

However, present owners the Glazer family have been quick to distance themselves from reports.

“There has been no approach for the club and one would not be welcome as the club is not for sale,” a spokesperson said.

United manager Alex Ferguson offered his support to the successful Qatar bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

“I would back the Qatar bid,” Ferguson said last summer.

“I admire their purpose and vision.”

Manchester United was yesterday identified as the third richest in the world by Deloitte.

Rivals Manchester City were bought by Sheikh Mansour of the United Arab Emirates in 2008, with an infusion of funds seeing the team challenge for Champions League football for the first time.

Manchester City also moved from 20th to 11th in the football rich list.

Glazer Family

Many Manchester United supporters are unhappy with the Glazer ownership of the club, which has seen the profitable business move into heavy debt.

Supports have taken to wearing the original green and yellow colours of Newton Heath in protest.

However, the present owners did receive the backing of Ferguson when an approach for the club was made by a wealthy group of investors – dubbed the Red Knights – last year.

City.Mobi

Also in the United Kingdom today, City.Mobi is celebrating the success of its new guide to Manchester. 

City.Mobi offers the most comprehensive mobile travel guides available, with over 800 cities in 200 countries listed. Each is developed by the City.Mobi team to combine into a single global travel directory.

However, each city retains its own mobile identity via a dedicated domain. Already on offer are Brussels.Mobi, Paris.Mobi, Sanfrancisco.Mobi and Sydney.Mobi.

Manchester.Mobi is the latest in this illustrious line up, offering click to call functionality – which means no scribbling down telephone numbers.

Most entries are also linked to websites where users can quickly access more detailed information if needed.

Other key features include information on accommodation, restaurants, attractions, entertainment, nightlife, shopping, and transport.

City.Mobi guides include user reviews and traveller utilities such as a translation guide, currency converter, news and local weather guide.