Man Utd bidder Sheikh Jassim has made a fifth and final offer to take over the club and told the Glazers to make a decision by Friday, according to reports.
Both Sheikh Jassim, the chairman of Qatar Islamic Bank and the son of a former Qatari prime minister, and his rival Sir Jim Ratcliffe had submitted what had been expected to be their third and final bids for the club at the end of April.
Man Utd owner Avram Glazer Credit: Alamy
But amid growing confidence in the Ratcliffe camp, Sheikh Jassim increased the value of his offer last month, which as before is for 100 per cent of the club, will clear all debt and includes a separate fund directed solely at the club and community.
Many Man Utd fans appear to see Sheikh Jassim’s bid as preferable, amid reports Ratcliffe’s bid would be structured to allow current co-owners Avram and Joel Glazer to maintain a minority stake.
But there has been few clues as to which bidder is likely to become the new owner or if the Glazers are still serious about selling the club.
Some observers have claimed that it appears that Ratcliffe and INEOS are being used as a ‘stalking horse’ to drive the price of the club up.
A previous report has claimed that Sheikh Jassim is still yet to hear back on his fourth offer for the club, which he made directly to the Glazer family.
And now the Daily Mail claim that Sheikh Jassim ‘has submitted a further bid’ to take over the Premier League club but this time he’s ‘set a deadline of Friday’.
The Qatari has ‘told those involved that he will engage up until Friday. After then, the bid will stand, but there will be no further negotiations’
Officials and staff inside Old Trafford are eager for clarity over the takeover situation, which began in November when Man Utd announced that the board was exploring “strategic alternatives” to enhance the club’s growth, with a full sale one option being considered.
Man Utd supporters are beginning to worry that the process will impact their ability to get their top targets in the summer transfer window, with Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount and Tottenham striker Harry Kane among those linked.
And a report yesterday said that Ten Hag was ‘growing concerned’ over his transfer plans ‘in part because he remains in the dark about how much money is available for new players’.
Source: football365
