Manchester United’s STAGGERING gross debt figure

Manchester United’s gross debt stands at a staggering £725m. 

The for-sale Premier League giants released their third quarter figures yesterday and the historic £521.5m stain of the Glazer family’s leveraged buyout – coupled with borrowings of £203.7m – took the gloss off the news they expect 12 months of record revenues. 

The figure is the highest it has been at the same stage of the financial year since 2010 and comes amid a growing frustration among large sections of the club’s support at a perceived lack of progress since the Americans revealed they were seeking investment or a sale last November. 

On Tuesday, a group of disgruntled fans arrived at the Old Trafford club shop to protest against the Glazers and demand a full sale. They timed their visit, which passed off without incident or arrest, to coincide with the launch of United’s new home kit. 

Those present held aloft anti-Glazer banners and blocked entrances to the store – although some fans who wanted to buy the Lancashire-rose inspired jerseys were diverted to separate entry points. 

Man United announced a staggering £725m-worth of gross debt with the release of their third quarter figures (pictured: co-chairpeople Joel and Avram Glazer)

On Tuesday, protestors gathered at the club shop to vent their frustration with the ownership

Despite final bids expected on April 28, neither Sir Jim Ratcliffe (left) nor Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani are any closer to a takeover at Old Trafford

The group, named The 1958, say they made their point adding: ‘(The protest) was about sending a statement and the bad optics against this ownership across the world. The focus flipping to the fan contempt against Glazer decay rather than a shameless overpriced kit launch.’ 

Elsewhere in the financial report, United said they expect revenues of £630m to £640m this year, which would be a club record. 

That figure has been upgraded from previous forecasts and comes on the back of record attendance and matchday revenues generated over the course of last season as Erik ten Hag’s side achieved Champions League football, reached the FA Cup and Carabao Cup Finals and progressed to the Europa League quarter-final. 

Signs protesting the Glazers’ ownership have been near-constant at matchdays this season

In total they sold 2.4m tickets for the campaign, which was a club record, and boast 360,000 members, which they say is the largest paid membership in world sport. Season tickets for the forthcoming season sold out in record time and United say they have 146,000 on a waiting list. 

The above may well be a factor in why the Glazers appear to be taking their time over offers from Qatari Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani and British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Despite a deadline for final bids of April 28, as of last night no preferred bidder had been chosen, with the new season less than seven weeks away. 

The Glazers are thought to be seeking around £6bn, and while both offers are north of £5bn, agreement remains elusive. 

As Mail Sport previously reported, Ten Hag has a budget of around £120m which is heavily influenced by financial fair play regulations and which would not be dramatically altered in the event of a takeover.