Avram and Joel Glazer should be embarrassed by new Manchester United takeover development

The Glazer family have set a soft deadline of February 17 for parties interested in a takeover of Manchester United to formally outline their strategy, which comes three months after the Americans started their 'process' to consider the club's future.

United announced in November they were 'exploring strategic opportunities' for the club, which could include selling it, but the latest development regarding Avram and Joel Glazer looking at buying their siblings out is certainly not good news for supporters.

The Glazers have been majority shareholders at Old Trafford since 2005 and fans have protested against their ownership for years, so the news that Avram and Joel are reluctant sellers has not been warmly received, rather unsurprisingly.

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The Manchester Evening News revealed on Monday afternoon that United co-chairmen Joel Glazer and Avram Glazer are exploring the possibility of buying out their four siblings on the club board, which would guarantee them full control, and that would be unanimously considered the nightmare scenario for the fanbase, who have longed for the Glazers to leave.

In December, the MEN launched a survey in which nearly 1,200 United fans responded and an astonishing 98 per cent of all those supporters taking part said they would be glad to see the American family sell the club.

Another 55 per cent of those who took part in that survey categorised the Glazers' ownership at United as 'disastrous', although that word might actually be viewed as kind by some, as the club has markedly deteriorated under their 'care'.

Around 10,000 fans protested against the Glazers in late August prior to Liverpool's visit to Old