(Photo: Reuters)

While a deal remains uncertain, the development represents a major milestone in the efforts of Sheikh Jassim - the son of Qatar’s former prime minister who is one of the richest men in the Gulf state - to take over the iconic sports brand.

Members of the Glazer family, which own minority stakes in Manchester United and control it thanks to a dual-class share structure, would be cashing out as part of the proposed deal, one of the sources said. 

A 6 billion-plus USD deal for Manchester United would be one of the biggest ever in the sports world.

Record 20-time English champions, Manchester United has over 650 million fans worldwide, according to market research firm Kantar.