LONDON Aberdeen are attempting to lure Manchester United Manager Alex Ferguson back to the Scottish Premier League club by offering him a controlling interest, the DAILY TELEGRAPH reported on Wednesday.

Aberdeen won three league titles under Ferguson before he moved to United, who have won the championship six times in the past eight seasons. Ferguson, 59, is due to retire next year.

The TELEGRAPH report said Ferguson was likely to be offered a place on the board of Manchester United as well an ambassadorial position.

"But the DAILY TELEGRAPH has learned that United's initiative is about to be challenged by Ferguson's previous club and they are prepared to give him a 50.1 percent shareholding if that is what is required to get their man," the report said.

"On the alternative investment market, Aberdeen's value is around 7,000,000 pounds ($10.5 million), so Ferguson would be handed just over half that amount."

A report in THE MIRROR said Celtic Manager Martin O'Neill headed a shortlist of three candidates to take over from Ferguson. It said the other two were Leeds Manager David O'Leary and Alan Curbishley of Charlton.

(Reuter)