Nicky Butt wants swift Glazers decision and outlines what Manchester United must avoid

Nicky Butt believes Manchester United need clarity off the pitch in order to continue progressing on it.

The Red Devils are at the centre of a takeover saga with the Glazers having received offers from Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos group. However, at this stage it remains unclear whether United's current owners are looking for an outright sale, or just significant investment, which could create uncertainty if the situation rumbles on.

United are enjoying their best season on the pitch for a number of years, with Erik ten Hag having already won the Carabao Cup in his debut year. They remain in the FA Cup and Europa League, while also possessing faint hopes of the Premier League title.

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However, with the level of investment elsewhere in the division from the likes of Chelsea, Newcastle United, Arsenal and Manchester City, United cannot afford to rest on their laurels. And, speaking to BBC Sport, former United midfielder Butt called on the Glazers to make a quick decision on the club's future.

He said: "Obviously the owners are the big thing at United. They have never really fit, never been visible and the fans have never really grown to them.

"If you have teams like Newcastle or City or Chelsea who keep on spending money on stadiums, training grounds and players, it's very difficult to catch up with them. People keep saying how well United are doing but if they are going up, do you think City aren't going like that in the background as well?

"You've still got to catch them because they aren't standing still. Chelsea aren't standing still. Newcastle will be like that as well. We don't know what the owners are going to