Jim Ratcliffe, head of chemical company INEOS and Britain's richest man with a reported worth of £9.8 billion ($12.1bn), officially registered an interest to buy Manchester United FC on Tuesday.
The Glazer family, the US-based owners of the Premiere League giants, had revealed in November they are looking at "strategic alternatives", including outside investment or a sale.
Boyhood United fan Ratcliffe, who made an unsuccessful £4.25bn ($5.2bn) bid to buy Chelsea last year, has long been linked with the Old Trafford outfit.