The BBC's Panorama programme found that the Glazers have borrowed £388m against shopping malls they own in the US and £66m against their American National Football League team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The family already has a £700 million debt at Manchester United, part of which will soon be repayable with an interest rate of 16.25 per cent.

The Premier League club's fans are becoming increasingly concerned that the levels of debt the owners are carrying will affect the ability to buy new players, and remain as successful as it has been in recent years in the UK and European football.