Apple considers buying Man Utd

According to The Daily Star, Tech giant Apple AAPL is considering buying Manchester United MANU.

The British tabloid newspaper, without any sources, said that Apple s chief executive Tim Cook was interested in paying 5.8 billion for the storied Premier League football club.

The Daily Star reported on Thursday that Tim Cook is keen to explore the opportunities that owning United could provide and will line up talks with the banks appointed to oversee the sale, which include The Raine Group.

The newspaper said that a purchase by Apple would make Man Utd the richest club in the world.

Given a number of other clubs, such as Newcastle United, owned by Saudi Arabia, have the resources of wealthy countries that do not need to apply commercial logic to their holdings, this claim is incorrect. What the Daily Star might mean is that it would make Man Utd the most highly valued football club.

Apple could not be reached for comment. Manchester United did not reply to a request for comment.

Man Utd is in play after American owners the Glazers said they were considering options for the business, which is quoted on the New York Stock Exchange.

The Glazers, who own the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, have been unpopular owners with Man Utd fans for years, facing demonstrations for them to sell.

In an open letter sent to the Glazers before the Daily Star published its story, the Manchester United Supporters TrustManchester United Supporters Trust wrote: The last 17 years have been characterized by debt and decline on-the-field and off it. The majority of United fans agree with the conclusion you seem to have reached it's time for change.

You have made huge amounts of money from Manchester United. Hundreds of millions of pounds are out of money without a single penny of investment in. We suspect you have met it in 2005, regardless of what commercial objective you had. The speculation is that former Man Utd star David Beckham could lead a consortium of buyers for the club. Potential bidders include Man Utd fan Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a British billionaire.