Speculation over the sale of Manchester United has gained more traction after Sky’s Kaveh Solhekol reported that Elliot Management has made it through to the second stage of the sale process.

The news comes in the wake of reports that Qatar-based investor, Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani, underlined that he would not overpay for the club, which has been valued at £6bn by its current ownership.

However, there are also reports that he is eager to take ownership of Old Trafford and return the club to its former glory.

According to Solhekol, Elliot Management is not looking to buy the club outright but would support other bidders in the process.

The company has been linked with supporting the club’s ownership in providing stadium developments, which have long been called for by the supporter’s trust.

Old Trafford has fallen behind other modern stadiums in recent years, and there is a hope that a new owner could provide much-needed investment in the area.

Jim Ratcliffe’s initial bid reportedly fell short of the evaluation of the Glazer family, indicating that the sale of Manchester United is likely to be a long process.