Man Utd net shirt sponsorship bonanza

Manchester United are set to unveil a giant £60m sponsorship deal as early as this week with Gibraltar-based online gambling outfit Mansion, despite fears that the move could anger a leading US sports authority.

Mansion is understood to have beaten off airline Etihad Airways, which is the government-owned national airline of the United Arab Emirates, to secure the deal, which - at a predicted £60m over four years - will be the largest ever and beats Arsenal's longer £100m agreement with Emirates.

Arsenal's deal includes renaming the stadium, whereas the Man Utd deal is solely for shirt sponsorship. The deal also beats Premiership leaders Chelsea's £50m deal with Samsung, announced last year.

Man Utd's current £9m-a-year sponsorship deal with mobile phone giant Vodafone finishes at the end of the current season. However, the decision to go with Mansion is an interesting move by the football club's owner, US tycoon Malcolm Glazer, who - along with his family - controversially took over the top-flight Man Utd in a £690m deal last year. Online gambling and gaming is technically illegal in the US, as is most betting on sports.

As owners of the American football team, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Glazers are regulated by the NFL. It is known to have an anti-gambling stance and although Man Utd is a separate business from the Buccaneers, it has thought to have hinted that it would be opposed to a deal with Mansion.

Negotiations to find a new sponsor have been led by Mr Glazer's son Bryan Glazer, and commercial director Andy Anson.

Manchester United was unavailable for comment.