Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani has reportedly made a new bid for Manchester United and has set this Friday as the deadline for final negotiations.
The takeover process at Old Trafford is continuing, albeit at a slow pace, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe currently believed to be the favourite to purchase the club from the Glazers.
There is a huge difference in the offers from Sheikh Jassim and Ratcliffe, though, with the former looking to immediately complete a full takeover, while the latter’s offer is said to be only for a controlling stake at this moment in time, which would be around 51%.
The Glazers could therefore stay on as minority shareholders, with Ratcliffe buying the remaining shares owned by the Americans after three years.
A recent report claimed that Sheikh Jassim had now cooled his interest and was considering other options in the Premier League, including West Ham United, due to the demands of the Glazer family, with the owners thought to value the 20-time English champions at £6bn.
According to the Daily Mail, there has now been a new twist in the saga, with Sheikh Jassim submitting a further offer for the club and setting a deadline of Friday for negotiations.
The report claims that the offer will stand after Friday, but the Qatari will not enter into negotiations if the Glazers attempt to increase the price.
A preferred bidder for the club has not yet been made, but it is understood that Sheikh Jassim’s offer also includes a significant sum to invest in Old Trafford and the club’s training ground.
The Glazers signalled a willingness to sell the Red Devils last November, but there has only been slow progress in recent weeks, much to the frustration of the club’s supporters, who continue to protest against the owners.
The bid from Ratcliffe is said to value Man United in the region of £5.5bn, which is still short of the enormous £6bn asking price allegedly set by the Glazer family.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the ownership situation, the Red Devils are pushing forward in terms of their plans for the summer transfer window.
A new centre-forward remains a priority, with Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane still said to be the top target, while Chelsea’s Mason Mount, West Ham United’s Declan Rice and Napoli’s Kim Min-jae are also being heavily linked with moves to Old Trafford.
Man United’s position in the transfer window has been strengthened, meanwhile, having secured Champions League football for the 2023-24 campaign courtesy of their third-place finish in the Premier League table.
