Wealthy fans, unhappy with Manchester United's American owners, are considering a bid to buy the English club, but a United spokesperson said it is not for sale. As it is, an expert says it would probably take $1.8 billion, if not more, to get the Glazer family to even take notice.

The "Red Knights," who include former Football League chairman Keith Harris and are working with the Manchester United Supporters Trust, had not yet contacted the Glazer family, who bought the club for about $1.2 billion but are saddled with debt they have had trouble paying down.

"Clearly the people they have got in the consortium are very experienced and knowledgeable people," said Wyn Grant, professor of football economics at Warwick University, "but it would take significantly more than 1.2 billion pounds [$1.8 b illion] in my opinion [to win over the Glazers]."