Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham believes no one 'feels completely comfortable' about the potential Qatari takeover of Manchester United.
Manchester United have been up for sale since November last year, with Qatari royal Sheikh Jassim's Nine Two Foundation and Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS the two main contenders.
United fans hoped a sale would be completed by the end of last season, though they have been left frustrated with a resolution to the saga still appearing to be some way off.
The American family have been holding out for a higher asking price with both interested parties awaiting a response as to whether they will be the preferred bidder.
Burnham has admitted his concerns over the potential of a Qatari takeover, but suggested there are wider questions to be asked about how Premier League clubs are funded.
'These are questions that everyone's having to embrace in this Premier League era,' Burnham told Global's The News Agents podcast when asked about the prospect of Qatari ownership of United.
'I don't think anyone feels completely comfortable about it and I'm going to be really clear about that.
'But the Premier League has kind of moved into a place where, is all the money clean in any Premier League club? There's associations with regimes around the world. That's how it is now, isn't it?
'Obviously, we don't have an outcome yet with regards to the ownership of Manchester United. I think there's a lot of people in this city would tell you there's a lot wrong with the current ownership regime there, in terms of the money that's been taken out of Manchester United over the last decade or so.
Qatar's human rights record, including the rights of workers and women, have been questioned long before Sheikh Jassim's intention to buy Manchester United was revealed - with concerns over the staging of last year's World Cup in the Gulf nation.
When asked whether he felt uncomfortable about the prospect of Qatari ownership due to the human rights issues, he said: 'I think there’s a differentiation, isn’t there.
'You can’t solve those issues from here, can you? Those are issues for the UK government talking to the Qataris. Those human rights issues have to be raised at that level and they were, through the World Cup.'
Mail Sport reported earlier this month that they fear the Glazers won't sell the club after failing to meet their £6bn valuation of the Red Devils.
The Glazers will be in power for the start of the new season, and a leading supporters' group has expressed fears the saga could drag out for 18 months.
The 1958 Group, the band of match goers responsible for leading the current protests against the ownership of the club, believes any continued long-term involvement from the Glazers would leave a 'bitter taste' in the mouths of many.
Speaking to BBC Sport, the 1958 representatives pointed to Newcastle's sale in 2021 and admitted the potential takeover at United could take just as long.
'Look at the length of time it took for Newcastle to go through,' they said.
'That was £300m and Mike Ashley wanted to sell. That took 18 months. This is possibly a £6bn takeover and you have got six Glazer siblings to please. [So far] it is eight months. It is frustrating - but it could be a year. It could be 18 months.'