Thomas Zilliacus is one of a few publicly known bidders who are hoping to seal a takeover of Manchester United.

The 69-year-old revealed earlier this week that he would be willing to buy half the club, with the other 50% being given to fans. So what do we know about him?

Zilliacus was born in Helsinki and he was educated at the Hanken School of Economics where he graduated with a Master’s Degree.

He became head of Nokia’s corporate communications in 1980 and most of his businesses have been based around the sale of mobile devices and related software since then.

Football has been a regular part of Zilliacus’s life. He was appointed Chairman of HJK Helsinki in 1982 before leaving the role in 1986 when he emigrated to Singapore. Three years after arriving in the country, he became the owner of Geylang International, which he sold in 1995.

Zilliacus’s net worth is not widely known. Some have estimated his fortune at just $500m to $600m, while others have assumed he must be a lot wealthier if he is willing to buy 50% of Manchester United. He is not thought to be one of the frontrunners but we shall see how the bidding process for United develops.