US billionaire targets Man United

CONTROVERSIAL US billionaire Philip Anschutz has identified Manchester United as a potential takeover target.

The owner of the Millennium Dome is keen to expand his vast sports and entertainment empire and believes the Premiership champions would make an ideal fit.

A source close to Anschutz said: 'He is heavily committed in the US right now and in Greenwich with the Dome, so he'd prefer to make a bid later. But that he ultimately wants to make the move - and could afford to - is beyond doubt.'

A number of shareholders have built up significant stakes in Manchester United recently, including Irish racing tycoons John Magnier and JP McManus, prompting fevered bid speculation that has seen shares almost double in a year to value the club at £470 million.

Referring to United's ownership, the Anschutz source added: 'You can't help but think that some shareholders are shaking the tree to get a player like Anschutz to move.'

A spokesman for Anschutz Entertainment Group told Financial Mail: 'We did have a meeting with Manchester United. What was discussed is between Manchester United and us.'

Anschutz, a reclusive 64-year-old whose personal wealth is estimated at £3.1 billion, already has close links with United. Financial Mail has established that representatives from his Anschutz Entertainment Group met United directors during the club's US summer tour. The United party is thought to have included Peter Kenyon, who quit as chief executive a fortnight ago to join Roman Abramovich's Chelsea.

The meeting between United and AEG took place in July, at the Home Depot Centre, where United players trained before their friendly match against Club America in Los Angeles. The United training venue is also the home of LA Galaxy, one of five US Major League Soccer clubs owned by Anschutz, a self-styled sports 'nut'.

Soccer United Marketing, a company partowned by Anschutz, was also heavily involved in the marketing of United's US tour. A further Anschutz-owned football club, New York Metrostars, sold goalkeeper Tim Howard to United during the summer.

Paddy Harverson, United's director of communications, played down the significance of the contact between United and AEG. 'It was not a big meeting,' he said. 'We were there to have a look around the new stadium.'

He added that Soccer United Marketing was not the main sponsor or promoter of United's US tour and that the Howard signing was just 'coincidence'.

Anschutz and his partners control 16 sports clubs, including the LA Kings ice hockey side and the LA Lakers basketball team, as well as numerous sports arenas and the biggest cinema chain in the US. He is also active in Europe with six professional ice hockey teams.