Manchester United deny reports of takeover approach
Manchester United have denied claims that a £1.6bn bid has been made for the club by buyers from the Middle East.
Reports have suggested owners the Glazer family are close to agreeing a deal to sell to a Qatari group.
But a United source told BBC Sport: "There has been no approach and one would not be welcome because the club is not for sale."
United's local rivals Manchester City were taken over in 2008 by Sheikh Mansour of the United Arab Emirates.
He has pumped more than £1bn into the club in his attempt to turn them into a leading force in world football.
United were bought by the Glazers for £790m in May 2005 and came third behind Real Madrid and Barcelona in a global Football Money league table released on Thursday, with City up from 20th to 11th place.
The list was put together by accountancy firm Deloitte and based on revenues for the 2009/2010 season.
However, while they have continued to generate cash, the Glazers have been criticised for loading excessive debt on the club.
And, despite protests from fans' groups, the Glazer family did receive the backing of United boss Sir Alex Ferguson last July following the Red Knights, a group of wealthy supporters, putting their plans to try to buy the club on hold in June.
The latest links over the ownership of current Premier League leaders United come ahead of their latest meeting with City on Saturday.
City are five points behind United having played a game more going into the hugely-anticipated match at Old Trafford.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/9394395.stmNo takeover offer, insist Man Utd
