According to reports, Beckham and his 'Class of '92' teammates Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and the Neville Brothers are involved in a bid funded by the Qatari royal family.
They have approached the Glazer family - who own 90 per cent of the Old Trafford club - on a number of occasions and the price remains the only stumbling block.
It had been suggested in The Sun that the Glazers have become disillusioned with running the club as they lurch from one disaster to another under David Moyes.
United find themselves seventh in the Barclays Premier League, having just suffered back-to-back 3-0 home defeats to rivals Liverpool and Manchester United, and have been drawn with Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
But club sources insist the club is not up for sale, with the Glazers determined to stay in charge and oversee a rebuilding job to challenge once again at the top of the table.
Led by brothers Avram and Joel, the Glazer family bought United in 2005 but ceded 10 per cent of their control in a 2012 share issue.
The Sun also reported that horseracing trainer Ged Mason, bookmaker Fred Done and other wealthy fans had been approached over a prospective deal.
A source told the tabloid: 'The Glazers have lost interest. Everyone knows the club is effectively for sale. It's just a question of getting the right price where they recoup their money and make a bit to save face.'
United's share price on the New York Stock Exchange rose by two per cent to $16.14 on Wednesday, valuing the club at £1.6billion - Daily Mail UK
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