Feb 18 (Reuters) - U.S.-based hedge fund giant Elliott Investment Management is planning to offer financing for a bid to take over Manchester United Plc (MANU.N), sources close to the matter told Reuters.
The fund has ruled itself out of a full takeover of the Premier League soccer club, the source added on Saturday.
It is unclear at this stage which bid Elliott, who owned Serie A champions AC Milan until last year, will be involved in.
Elliott and United both declined to comment when approached by Reuters.
The Glazer family, United's American owners, said in November they had begun looking at options for the record 20-time English champions, including new investment or a potential sale, 17 years after they bought the Old Trafford club.
There have been two confirmed bidders for the club that were received by U.S. bank Raine, who are overseeing any potential sale, before the initial Friday deadline.
British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, a life-long United fan, and his company INEOS lodged an offer for a "majority ownership" of the club on Saturday.
Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, a son of Qatar’s former prime minister, also confirmed a bid on Friday.
Last August, Elliott completed the $1.2 billion sale of Milan to the private equity firm Redbird, after the club won the Serie A title. It took control of the team in 2018.
