Chinese company

Touch had begun offering five different sex doll types for daily or longer-term rent on Thursday in Beijing but quickly drew complaints and criticism.

The company said in a statement on Weibo it "sincerely apologised for the negative impact" of the concept.

But the firm stressed sex was "not vulgar" and said it would keep working towards more people enjoying it.

Touch told the BBC the rental service had operated for two days and had garnered a lot of interest and requests.

It has been reported by the Sunday Times that a mysterious Chinese buyer has expressed an interest in purchasing a holding in the English club, who are owned by the Glazer family.

According to the report, some of United's independent shareholders have been contacted.

However, Ping An Insurance Group distanced itself from the rumours on Monday.

"The information is false. Ping An have not been involved in any discussion on purchasing a holding in Manchester United," Ping An spokesman Sheng Ruisheng said via the 21st Century Business Herald.