Speculation the club is attracting foreign investors has been rife since the billionaire sportswear magnate took over at St James's Park six months ago.
How Much Truth In This £200m Take Over?
Now the Sunday Express is reporting speculation benefactors from the Far East want to pour their cash into United.
Ashley doesn't need the money, and he seems to have come out of his shell since we heard reports he was a "hide away billionaire".
Far from being a recluse, he has even been in the thick of the action with the Toon Army (wearing his Toon shirt) at such intimidating places as Sunderland and Middlesbrough.
So the report of Asian "interest" could well be true.
But why would Ashley want to sell?