Manchester United to get new sponsors?

Reports in the English press this morning claim that Korean electrical LG and Saudi Telecom are interested in taking over the sponsorship of Manchester United. United’s current sponsors AIG are in serious financial trouble and have had to be propped up by the American government following the global credit crunch. AIG signed a 56.5 million pound deal in 2006 with the current Premier League and Champions League holders.

Manchester United already have strong links with Saudi Telecom who agreed a five-year deal in August worth £10m for advertising on its website and at Old Trafford. United also sent a team to Saudi Arabia last year on a 'PR trip'. Man United chief executive David Gill denied, at the time, that trip was money-motivated: 'People can level what they want at us, but we're relaxed about that. People don't understand how these decisions are taken.' We will see.