The IPO would include stapled securities that bundle with ordinary and preferential shares, one of the sources told Reuters, consistent with expectations the club would issue more than one tier of stock to ensure the Glazer family that owns the club retains control.
By combining ordinary and preferential shares into a single security, Manchester United would effectively create a category of shares with lower voting rights, but higher dividends.
The football club wants to raise cash to help cut almost $500 million in debt. Its choice of Singapore was aimed at expanding the club's huge Asian fan base as well as tapping the region's stronger growth and investment climate.
"The main issue now is the financial position of the company and they would have to convince potential investors that it's not going to be an issue going forward given that the global outlook is a little bit slower," said Lorraine Tan, director of Asia equity research at S&P Capital IQ, a unit of Standard & Poor's.
"Investor interest is always going to be a question of valuation, but they are a big enough brand name, so I think they are not going to be heavily discounted like an unknown company."
Many of the club's estimated 333 million global fans are sceptical of the Glazers who bought the club in 2005.
The Red Devils have spent the past few weeks courting Asia's major institutional and sovereign investors including Singapore state investor Temasek, sources told Reuters earlier.
The listing of one of the world's biggest football clubs is seen as a coup for the Singapore Exchange , which competes against Hong Kong for listings.
Lawyers have said it is likely the club will make a significant part of its offering in preference shares, which are shares that carry no voting rights, but get priority over ordinary shares for dividend payments and in the event of liquidation. .
SGX CEO Magnus Bocker defended the exchange's position, saying Singapore's governance structure for companies is ranked among the best in the world.
"Our listing regime does not allow companies, regardless of country of origin or size, to issue [ordinary] shares with different voting rights," he said.
