Glazer raises Reds stake to almost 20%

US SPORTS tycoon Malcolm Glazer has raised his stake in Manchester United to 19.17% in a move likely to reignite speculation of a takeover bid for the world’s richest soccer club.

Mr Glazer, who owns American football’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, said yesterday he had bought a further 2.41 million shares in the English club, taking his holding to 50.27 million shares.

Mr Glazer said in March he had no plans to launch a bid for Manchester United, though a source said at that time he could still make an offer in the future. Manchester United, third in England’s premier league in the 2003/04 season, has been the subject of persistent bid speculation as its two biggest shareholders have built up their stake in recent months. Irish racehorse owners John Magnier and JP McManus own 28.9%, although sources close to them say they are long-term investors rather than potential bidders.