MANCHESTER UNITED’S AMERICAN owners say they are committed to the 18-time English champions for the “long term” and haven’t tried to sell the Premier League club.

The statement was released today as United delivered a quarterly update on its financial results amid continuing media reports the Glazer family have tried to sell the club to the Qatari royal family.

The statement from the board “notes recent press speculation regarding a possible bid for Manchester United.”

But it adds “the owners remain fully committed to their long-term ownership of the club. No discussions have taken place, Manchester United is not for sale and the owners will not entertain any offers.”

It is widely assumed the Glazers would sell if they were offered an eye-watering sum by Qatar Holdings who are said to be interested. The figure of £1.8 billion has been reported, which would be more than twice the sum the Glazers paid for the club in 2005.

It remains a mystery how exactly they were able to pay off £220 million in ‘payment-in-kind notes’ earlier this year.