Elliott Management have made a late bid for Manchester United.
American hedge fund Elliott made a last minute bid for United before Friday's deadline entry into the 5billion bidding battle for Manchester United, reports The Times.
However, the group - which previously owned Serie A side AC Milan and manages 46billion in assets, is not said to be looking at a full-scale takeover and instead wants to help provide the financing for a bid, according to the Times.
The race for the keys to Old Trafford is hotting up with a Qatari bid - led by Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani - already being submitted and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the UK's richest man, also putting in an offer.
But Elliott - run by Paul Singer - are now thought to be an outside contender to become involved with a bid, with the firm possibly taking a stake in the club or providing debt funding.
A small team in Elliott's London office have been putting the bid together - and their potential involvement could provide assistance to any bidders who are interested in making a bid for United but do not have the firepower to see off competitors.