Manchester United have reportedly entered into talks to buy the licence of A-League club Central Coast Mariners – and plan to move them to Sydney.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald,Manchester United have already held lengthy discussions with the owner of the Australian club, Mike Charlesworth, and revealed their plans to turn the Mariners into the Red Devils’ sister club.
Central Coast Mariners are struggling financially and would benefit from United’s investment, but the takeover could see them uprooted from their home in Gosford and relocated to better-known Sydney.
A sale price is yet to be agreed upon, but it will likely be a drop in the ocean for a club as wealthy as United.
(Image: PA)
Forbes recently ranked Manchester United as the fourth richest club on the planet, valued at a huge £3.05billion – behind only Barcelona,Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
Football Australia will have the final say on any deal being done, though, and only once Manchester United’s proposal gains the approval of the majority of A-League clubs.
But the report adds that this shouldn’t be too much of a problem as the 20-time English champions would boost the profile of the league.
Should Man United succeed in their bid then they will follow in the footsteps of their rivals Man City.
The City Football Group expanded their portfolio with the purchase of Australian side Melbourne Heart in 2014. The A-League club was later rebranded Melbourne City.
