Malcolm Glazer was on the brink of possibly taking Manchester United private tonight after it emerged he had control of 74.81% of the club's shares.

Mr Glazer's advisers have been buying shares all day and they now require a fraction more stock to go beyond the crucial threshold of 75%, meaning the tycoon has complete control over the running of the company.

Earlier today, the owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers revealed he would carry £265m of borrowings into the deal, which values United at £790m.