LONDON (Reuters) – A group of wealthy supporters looking to put a bid together for English soccer club Manchester United have approached Nomura to see if it will act as financial adviser, a person familiar with the situation said.

Japanese investment bank Nomura would not comment.

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LONDON (Reuters) – A group of wealthy supporters looking into a possible bid for English soccer club Manchester United said they would not overpay, and dismissed financial numbers circulating in the media as purely speculative.

The Times newspaper reported on Friday that 60 investors have pledged up to 1.5 billion pounds ($2.26 billion) in their bid to seize control of the club. A spokesman for the group said they had received a very good level of interest.

The “Red Knights”, a collection of City figures including former Football League chairman Keith Harris and Goldman Sachs Chief Economist Jim O’Neill, have said they are looking at the feasibility of putting together a bid for the world’s third-richest soccer club.

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LONDON (Reuters) – Premier League club Portsmouth have been called back to the High Court on Tuesday after the Government’s Revenue and Customs department (HRMC) challenged their voluntary administration.

Andrew Andronikou, the administrator appointed when the club went into administration last Friday, told Sky Sports News: “We are having to go to court to show that the debenture is valid.

“I don’t understand the exact reason why this is, we’re just following normal protocol. We are not unduly worried.

“It’s not standard procedure but I’d imagine that HMRC are basically crossing their Is and dotting their Ts. We are expecting the administration to proceed.”

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LONDON (Reuters) – Portsmouth will go into administration on Friday unless a new buyer comes forward before then, the club said on Tuesday.

Owner Balram Chainrai will take that step rather than risk the Premier League’s bottom club being wound-up in the High Court on Monday when it faces a petition from the Government’s Customs and Revenue department for unpaid taxes.

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DUBAI (Reuters) – United Arab Emirates businessman Sulaiman al-Fahim resigned from his position as the non-executive chairman of debt-ravaged Premier League club Portsmouth on Monday and gave his 10 percent shareholding to the club’s supporters’ trust.

Fahim confirmed the developments to Reuters as moves continued in London to save the 112-year-old club from going into liquidation.

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LONDON (Reuters) – Hong Kong businessman Balram Chainrai has become Portsmouth’s fourth owner in less than a year and will soon look to sell on to a fifth, the troubled Premier League club said on Thursday.

Chainrai took control of the club from Ali al-Faraj, who in turn had followed Sacha Gaydamak and Sulaiman al-Fahim.

Chainrai has taken over the 90 percent shareholding in the south coast club that was held by al-Faraj after triggering a clause when he did not receive repayments of a 17 million pounds ($26.9 million) loan he made to the club via his company Portpin.

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LONDON (Reuters) – Premier League strugglers West Ham United signed three strikers on a quiet final day of business before the winter transfer window closed on Monday.

The east London club, battling to avoid relegation, acquired South African striker Benni McCarthy, Egypt striker Mido and Brazilian striker Ilan in a bid to boost their prospects of staying up.

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LONDON (Reuters) – The Premier League has lifted the transfer embargo it imposed on Portsmouth in October but has limited the club’s dealing to loans and free signings until the window closes next week.

In a statement on the club’s website (www.portsmouthfc.co.uk) on Tuesday, chief executive Peter Storrie said: “We are delighted the transfer embargo for player registrations has been lifted by the Premier League.

“(Manager) Avram Grant will now be trying to bring in players to strengthen the squad in loan and free deals.”

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ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Manchester United have signed a three-year sponsorship deal with Turkish Airlines for an undisclosed sum that could help the Premier League club’s parent company reduce some of its mounting debt.

The Istanbul-based company last month signed a three-year, 3 million euro ($4.24 million) sponsorship deal with European chamnpions Barcelona as it seeks to become a global brand.

Details of the deal with United were not disclosed.

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LONDON (Reuters) – Manchester United’s controversial bond issue has cost the Premier League champions 54 million pounds ($87.06 million), reported The Sunday Times.

As part of the 500 million pounds in funds raised by United last week, the club had to pay 15 million pounds in fees and expenses to investment bankers and lawyers, the newspaper said.

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