Saudia Arabia is allegedly lining up a takeover bid for Manchester United as the kingdom faces international scrutiny over the disappearance of a Saudi journalist.

Crown Prince Mohammad - second in command to King Salman - wants to make his mark in the world of football and views Glazer-owned Manchester United as the perfect acquisition, The Sun reported today, citing 'well-placed sources.'

Either a family friend, a Saudi-owned company or the state's sovereign wealth fund could bid for the Glazer family's private shares in the club valued at almost £3billion, the report said.

It comes as governments around the world pile pressure on the Saudis after Washington Post reporter Jamal Khashoggi, a critic of Prince Mohammad, went missing from the Saudi consulate in Istanbul two weeks ago.

Turkish officials fear a Saudi hit team killed and dismembered Khashoggi. Saudi Arabia has called such allegations 'baseless' but has not proved the writer ever left the consulate.
If United's current owners were to sell the club, it would cost the Saudis more than £3bn - but there is a chance that the crown prince could instead just buy a portion.

Saudi Arabia has already delved into the world of sport with purchases in both F1 and WWE - and football is already part of a wider political battle between the Gulf States.

For example, the Saudis, who severed all ties with Qatar last year, banned Qatari channel beIN Sports.

Then channel BeoutQ, allegedly based in Saudi Arabia, apparently started pirating beIN Sport's coverage of the English top flight.

It is as yet unclear whether the Glazer family would be willing to sell the club. They have made no comment on the idea of selling since their arrival back in 2005.
Mohammad bin Salman, 33, has been Saudi Arabia's crown prince since June 2017 and is said to be worth around £850billion.

He is also the country's First Deputy Prime Minister, President of the Council for Economic and Development Affairs and Minister of Defense. He was the youngest ever incumbent of the latter position when he arrived in office three years ago.

His full name is: Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman bin Faisal bin Turki bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud.