Amid City’s treble celebrations, the drama continues on the other side of Manchester. Reports suggest that the takeover battle is coming to a climax, and the preferred bidder could be announced this week.
Manchester United owners, the Glazer family, first put the club up for sale in November 2022. After months of bidding and negotiations, the possible owners have been narrowed down to just two and ‘Daily Mail’ reports that the preferred party could be announced this week.
The deal is being managed by Raine Group, a US merchant bank, and the outlet reports that Qatari Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani and British petrochemicals billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe are both finalising deal details.
Despite Sheikh Jassim declaring that his fifth offer, which still didn’t meet the family’s sale value of £6 billion, would be his final, it is reported he has submitted an improved offer this week. He u-turned on his self-imposed ultimatum of Friday, and the English outlet claim that he believes he is still in contention for the deal.
Sheikh Jassim is looking for 100% ownership of the club, and it is believed his offer sits somewhere around the £5 billion mark. The offer from Ratcliffe’s company, Ineos is for around 60 per cent and comes with a proposal that would allow members of the Glazer family, unpopular with large sections of United’s support, to remain for a set time period.
There is frustration within the club at the lack of a resolution, as stable ownership is needed for the club to be able to make good signings this summer, and the transfer window looms large.
🚨🚨🌕| There has been a renewed sense of optimism in the past 72 hours for the Qataris, fuelled by dialogue with the Glazers and their representatives towards the end of last week. [@TimesSport] pic.twitter.com/VjgvfQiYzO
— centredevils. (@centredevils) June 11, 2023