Former Manchester United player Nicky Butt has claimed that investment into the club can only be a positive as the Glazer family proceed with takeover talks.
Last month, United's owners confirmed in a statement that they had put the Reds up for sale and would seek new investment in the club. The Glazer family is believed to prefer a full sale of the club, though there is still the possibility they could sell a stake in the club while remaining in control.
Avram Glazer was approached by The Athletic during the World Cup in Qatar, where he spoke briefly about the possibility of selling the club.
Butt, who made 384 appearances for United between 1994 and 2004, has suggested that investment is needed at United if his former side are to compete with the top clubs in the Premier League.
"It’s going to take a lot of due diligence and a few months to get it sorted, maybe years," he told ManchesterWorld. "The good thing is the owners have realised that they need to bring investment back into the club, whether that’s full investment by selling the whole lot, or it’s a small percentage of the club, it’s good for everyone.
"We're the biggest football club in the world and Manchester United should not be in debt and struggling," he added.
The Reds defeated Burnley in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night and will face off against Charlton Athletic in the quarter-finals of the competition. Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag's men return to Premier League action against Nottingham Forest on December 27.
Ex-Reds man Butt also suggested that United 'should' finish inside the top four this term, especially if they continue in the same vein of form they were in prior to the break in the domestic campaign.
"I don’t really know with the World Cup in the middle of the season. You come back and can you get the players all ready to go? If they can, they’ll be fine," he said.
"[Erik] ten Hag looks like he’s starting to get his ways out onto the football pitch; he’s taking no prisoners and the players all know who the boss is. Apparently his training is very good and there have been some good performances. They’re not where they want to be, but if they kick on as they have been they should get top four."
The Glazers became majority owners of United in 2005, but have remained unpopular with the majority of supporters in the 17 years since.