Shares of Premier League club Manchester United rose sharply ahead of the deadline for takeover bids and reported interest from Saudi Arabia.
The stock closed at $26.84 on Thursday, up almost 10 percent, on the New York Stock Exchange, with potential buyers expected to submit initial offers before the Friday deadline.
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With a bid also expected to come from Qatar, reports of a move from Saudi Arabia could heighten the possibility of the sale price reaching an estimated $6 billion.
Jim Ratcliffe, one of Britain's richest men and owner of petrochemicals giant INEOS, had also publicly confirmed his intention to buy the Old Trafford club.