Man Utd takeover LIVE: Leading bidders granted extension in dramatic twist - latest updates

Neither of the two leading bids for Manchester United, fronted by the Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, submitted their improved offers for the club by Wednesday’s deadline, The Independent understands.

Both parties had until 9pm to submit their offers but have instead asked for an extension. It is understood both groups will submit their second, improved bids on Thursday, with the offers for the club expected to be more than £5bn.

Ratcliffe’s INEOS group and the bid front by Sheikh Jassim were expected to submit their offers in advance of the 9pm deadline, but in a dramatic twist it emerged the Raine group received neither offer. An extension to the process has been granted, however, and both Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim both intend to meet the new deadline.

The Glazers, who bought Manchester United for £790m in 2005 and saddled the club with debt, want around £6bn, which would be a record fee for a football club.Follow all the latest updates on the takeover below:

Manchester United takeover news

• Leading Manchester United bidders ask for extension after 9pm deadline passes

• Sheikh Jassim submits world-record second bid to buy Manchester United by 9pm deadline

• Sir Jim Ratcliffe to match offer after saying he will not pay “stupid money”

• Qatar ready to increase Manchester United offer amid new strategy to secure takeover

Manchester United takeover

23:04 , Jamie Braidwood

According to tonight’s reports there were up to eight bids submitted by tonight’s 9pm deadline but not, apparently, the Qatari or INEOS offers.

No one saw tonight’s developments coming, though, and there are set to be plenty more to come tomorrow and in the coming days.

Manchester United takeover: Deadline for bids extended

22:43 , Jamie Braidwood

How about this for a late twist! The Independent now understands that neither of the two leading bids for Manchester United, fronted by the Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, submitted their improved offers for the club by Wednesday’s deadline.

Both parties had until 9pm to submit their offers but have instead asked for an extension to the deadline. It is understood both groups will submit their second, improved bids on Thursday, with the offers for the club expected to be more that £5bn in what is a crucial stage of the takeover process.

Ratcliffe’s INEOS group and the bid front by Sheikh Jassim were expected to submit their offers in advance of the 9pm deadline, but in a dramatic twist it emerged the Raine group received neither offer. An extension to the process has been granted, however.

Leading Manchester United bidders ask for deadline extension

Manchester United takeover: What next?

21:28 , Jamie Braidwood

Bids will be handled by the Raine group, but it is understood the Glazer family are split over whether they want to sell the club or retain minority ownership.

While the Qatar and INEOS bids are on the table, a third option would be raising funds through minority investors for renewed investment into the club.

The Glazers would want a record £6bn for the club if they decide to sell - a fee The Independent understands the Qatar group are prepared to match.

INEOS have the funds to compete with the Qatar bid but it has been reported Ratcliffe has held concerns over the price rising too high.

Manchester United takeover

21:16 , Jamie Braidwood

As reported by The Independent this week, Qatar has increased their offer for Manchester United

A consideration that weighed over the entire process is whether the Gulf state would ultimately put up a bid that “blows everyone out of the water”.

There was some surprise that hasn’t been the strategy from the start, given that it would have been very easy for Qatar to go to the Glazers and say they would pay the necessary amount before it all got under way. Some industry figures believe that is down to not playing their hand so early.

Others, somewhat connected to that, believe it is part of a new strategy from the state to illustrate these are proper business investments.

“They will try to pay the right price,” one source said, “but they are adamant they won’t overpay.”

Manchester United takeover

21:02 , Jamie Braidwood

Sheikh Jassim is understood to have submitted a world-record second bid to buy Manchester United, with the offer submitted before tonight’s 9pm deadline.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s bid is in too, as reported earlier.

Manchester United takeover: Who else has bid?

20:52 , Jamie Braidwood

Little or nothing is known of other potential bidders but it reported that US hedge fund Elliott Management have made a proposal that would involve offering finance to either new bidders or the Glazers.

Manchester United takeover

20:36 , Jamie Braidwood

Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, the son of a former Qatari prime minister, is the chairman of Qatar Islamic Bank.

He has said his interest is a private initiative through his Nine Two Foundation and is not connected to the Qatari state.

His representatives also visited Old Trafford last week for talks which were understood to be positive and constructive.

Manchester United takeover: Who are the other bidders?

20:19 , Jamie Braidwood

Little or nothing is known of other potential bidders but it reported that US hedge fund Elliott Management have made a proposal that would involve offering finance to either new bidders or the Glazers.

Manchester United takeover

20:18 , Jamie Braidwood

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who made an unsuccessful bid in the region of £4.25billion to buy Chelsea in 2022, visited Old Trafford last week.

The 70-year-old businessman was born in the Manchester area and is a boyhood United fan. He is one of the richest people in Britain with an estimated personal fortune of £6bn.

Manchester United takeover: Sir Jim Ratcliffe to submit improved bid before deadline

20:00 , Michael Jones

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS group will submit an improved bid for Manchester United by tonight’s deadline, The Independent understands.

Bidders for Manchester United have until 9pm tonight to submit their second offers for the club, in what is a crucial stage of the takeover process.

The Independent has reported that Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani is also prepared to up his bid for the Old Trafford club.

Both parties - which are the only groups to publicly declare their interest - visited Manchester United for meetings last week.

Bids will be handled by the Raine group, but it is understood the Glazer family are split over whether they want to sell the club or retain minority ownership.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe to submit improved bid for Manchester United

What is the difference between Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s bids?

19:50 , Michael Jones

Although neither Sheikh Jassim nor Si Jim Ratcliffe is thought to have surpassed £5billion with their initial bids both are expected to get closer to the mark with the second round of bidding closing at 9pm tonight.

However, the two bids were for different stakes of ownership and brought different options to the table for Manchester United as a football club.

Sheikh Jassim wants to complete a full takeover of United, meaning he would buy the Glazer family’s 69 per cent and then purchase the remaining 31 per cent, which is made up of smaller investors. This could take some time as he would have to contact and negotiate with each investor to buy out their shares.

The Qatari banker has also made several pledges to invest in specific areas of the club - such as renovating the stadium - leaving United in debt following the cas purchase.

Ratcliffe’s bid is only for the Glazers’ 69 per cent and a majority shareholder stake. At this stage he is not offering to buy out the remaining shareholders.

He would have to borrow money to finance any takeover and his company INEOS has not committed to paying off the club’s debt, which sits at £656 million.

Those close to his bid are saying that no new debt will be loaded onto the club but it remains to be seen if Ratcliffe would pay off the debt over time.

Paul Scholes hopes fan unrest ends if Manchester United get new owners

19:40 , Michael Jones

Paul Scholes hopes the potential sale of Manchester United will bring to an end years of fan unrest.

The Glazer family are considering selling the Old Trafford giants after 18 years of controversial ownership.

The Americans have invited interested parties to submit plans to take the club forward, which could either mean a full takeover or significant investment.

So far two bidders, Ineos owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim, have gone public with plans to take outright control of the club but there could be other interest.

Former United midfielder Scholes has no preference over who might take charge but just hopes it does happen for the sake of harmony.

Paul Scholes hopes fan unrest ends if Manchester United get new owners

Sheikh Jassim to make world-record bid for Manchester United

19:30 , Michael Jones

Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani will make a world-record bid for Manchester United. The current record is £3.75bn for a sports team.

The Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group stumped up the cash for the Denver Broncos last summer.

Sky Sports say that the figure will be somewhere between £4-6 billion but do not know whether that will be enough to convince the Glazer family to sell the club.

Qataris circling £5.5bn bid for Manchester United

19:20 , Michael Jones

Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani will reportedly offer £5.5bn to buy United in an effort to knock Sir Jim Ratcliffe out of the race.

The Mirror claims that while Ratcliffe is understood to have increased his bid for United, he is not thought to have gone as high as £5.5bn, which could see the Qataris secure the sale.

Manchester United not worth Glazers’ valuation says finance expert

19:10 , Michael Jones

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire says the suggestion that the Glazer family would receive more than £5billion for the Red Devils is way off the mark.

In a similar comparision Todd Boehly’s consortium bought Chelsea for £4bn and with Manchester United being a more historically rich and successful side, not to mention more commerically viable, then the Glazers’ valuation doesn’t seem too over the top.

“Manchester United is a much bigger football club than Chelsea,” Maguire told CNN. “It’s got a bigger ground. It’s got a bigger fan base. It’s a much more well-known brand.

“It’s a bit like putting up your house for sale and you give a rough guide price. The Glazers are looking for $7.2 to $9.6 billion. It’s probably not worth that … and it comes down to how much each party is willing to compromise or to pay in terms of extra financial commitments.”

Qatar takeover of Man United would be new nadir for English football

19:00 , Michael Jones

A Qatari state takeover of Manchester United would be nothing short of an English football travesty.

This is a moment of enormity for the sport. The concern is two-fold, both having a multiplying effect on the other to pose a potentially irreversible impact on the game. At its moral core, there is English football’s biggest club being made to represent the biggest problem in football right now. United would be politically used to mitigate one of the most criticised human rights records on earth, centred on a labour system described as modern slavery, consequently making this noble institution complicit.

United would no longer just be about Salford, Manchester and a community of fans thrilled by a glorious history of adventure and defiance. It would be about Qatar, its foreign policy and the kind of issues that just shouldn’t be a concern for football. “Sportswashing” is too soft a description for what is actually happening here, especially when you consider the other issue.

The purchase of United by a state bid would mean the three primary countries driving the Gulf blockade all finally own major clubs in England, including the biggest of all. What would it say for what the Premier League is? The most watched league in the world would become the most morally compromised, by far greater degrees. The competition would be turned into a political arena. Manchester would be turned into a political arena. Nobody should be under any illusions about that.

Qatar takeover of Man United would be new nadir for English football

Sir Jim Ratcliffe could bring in financial backers to boost bid

18:50 , Michael Jones

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly considering a number of other financial backers to help him beat Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani in the Manchester United takeover race.

The Qatari banker is the current frontrunner to complete a takeover of the club though Ratcliffe seeks to bring in other parties to bolster his position ahead of Wednesday’s 9pm soft deadline.

The Daily Mail reports that the petrochemical billionaire interest in other parties is to try and increase the scope of his bid with second bids likely to surpass the £5bn mark.

Who else is in the running?

18:40 , Michael Jones

Sheikh Jassim of Qatar and Sir Jim Ratcliffe are the faces of the two most public bids for Manchester United but up to eight interested parties toured Old Trafford and the Carrington training ground last week.

Elliott Investment Management, a US hedge fund, are known to have contacted Raine, the bank handling the sale for the Glazer family. They’re offer is to help finance any takeover and have indicated it would give assistance to the Glazers should a sale fail to materialise.

In that outcome Joel and Avram Glazer could potentially buy out their other siblings, as has been one rumoured option, though that borrowing would likely be leveraged against the club as opposed to the two individuals and would not go down well at all with Manchester United fans.

Other investment groups — including Ares Management, which refused to comment on its involvement — are thought to have also offered their capital to potential bidders and the Glazer family.

Sheikh Jassim ‘very confident’ about Manchester United takeover

18:30 , Michael Jones

Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani is said to be “very confident” second bid to buy Manchester United can win over the Glazer family.

With the sale expected to hit around £5 billion only the Qataris are able to do a deal without Wall Street lending or investment meaning they are on a very strong footing.

Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase and Co are understood to be helping bankroll Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s offer with a mix of bonds and loans beyond the value of United’s existing gross debt of £680m.

Ratcliffe’s track record of successful investments makes him a safer bet than many for loans but the outside market conditions may affect his bid.

Credit Suisse were rescued by arch rival UBS over the weekend and the associated write off of $17 billion of loans means investment banks in the US are wary further losses.

More recently Barclays has shelved two loans for Ratcliffe’s Ineos Enterprises, according to Bloomberg, but The Telegraph report sources close to Ratcliffe were dismissive that the market conditions could harm his bid.

The same report says that Sheikh Jassim, the chairman of Qatar Islamic Bank, is very confident that his debt-free bid is the best offer on the table and will be the most beneficial for the club.

Prospective bidders have until 9pm tonight to submit their proposals.

Greed has brought football to the brink of implosion – now the entire structure could collapse

18:20 , Michael Jones

Back in the early 1990s, a group of European football figures travelled to the United States for advice on how to grow the game, only to be given a warning by one of the American sports officials.

“If you think you’ve got problems now, wait until you start making money.”

It was counsel that has come to archly describe football in 2023.

The game’s giddy embrace of late-stage capitalism has made it an immense financial and cultural force, to the point the major American sports are now said to be “petrified” of its growing US influence ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The build-up to that, and the sport’s final and full global takeover, might nevertheless bring a breaking point in football history. That is because – as with so much in late-stage capitalism – the opulent top end is better off than ever before but the wider health of the rest has never been worse. The game has grown to a size where it is this gleaming cultural monolith but one filled with several structural faultlines.

Some of these have been revealed and widened by major stories of the last few weeks, only signalling how close we may be to something very significant.

Manchester United could spark football’s ‘Big Short’ moment

Will the Glazers actually sell Manchester United?

18:10 , Michael Jones

The Glazer family say that will definitely sell Manchester United if the right price comes in from one of the prospective bidders. The current asking prcie from the Glazers is believed to be £6bn.

The two frontrunners, Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe are believed to have tabled bids worth £4.5bn in the first round of the takeover process.

Should the Glazers valuation not be met they could raise capital for investment in the club and pay down its debt.

It cannot be rueld out that the Glazers will keep control of United by agreeing a minority deal, with the team’s performances improving dramatically and a new strategy now in place.

Sheikh Jassim ‘willing to overpay’ for Manchester United

18:00 , Michael Jones

Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani would now be “willing to overpay” for Manchester United with a figure closer to the Glazers’ £6bn price tag when he makes a second bid for the club on Wednesday say Sky Sports.

It was previously expected that the Qatari bidders were determined not to pay over the odds for the club, a stance echoed by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the visit to Old Trafford by a delegation representing Sheikh Jassim has changed things.

Following long, constructive meetings and consultations with his bankers and advisers in Qatar last Friday Sheikh Jassim is said to be putting together what he believes will be a compelling offer for the club.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe will not pay ‘stupid money’ for Manchester United

17:50 , Michael Jones

Sir Jim Ratcliffe says he will not pay a “stupid” price to acquire Manchester United as the petrochemicals billionaire prepares to go up against Qatari Sheikh Jassim in the race to buy the Premier League club.

The INEOS chief executive and his team held talks with United last Friday during a visit to Old Trafford and the Carrington training complex.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, the 70-year-old said: “How do you decide the price of a painting? How do you decide the price of a house? It’s not related to how much it cost to build or how much it cost to paint.

“What you don’t want to do is pay stupid prices for things because then you regret it subsequently.”

Glazers set second deadline for proposals

17:40 , Michael Jones

Those bidding to buy Manchester United will have until 9pm today to officially submit their offers.

United chiefs are said to be expecting up to eight bids, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani still the two leading parties to succeed the Glazer family at Old Trafford.

But, according to Sky Sports, up to six new parties could enter the running before Wednesday’s deadline posed by Raine, the merchant bank running the sale process on the Glazers’ behalf.

Representatives for US hedge Elliott Management have also visited Old Trafford after making a proposal to finance a potential takeover or supplement the current ownership, with the American family continuing to weigh up whether to sanction a full sale or continue their ownership through minority investment.

Eight bids expected to come in for Manchester United

17:30 , Michael Jones

There could be as many as eight bidders who send proposals to the Glazer family before Wednesday’s deadline as part of the next stage of the Manchester United takeover.

The two main bidders remain Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani of Qatar who went public with their initial bids but Sky Sports claim that six other proposals could rival them as the Glazers weigh up the best offers.

Other interested parties have decided to remain anonymous but that could change after Wednesday’s deadline if the current owners like one of more of their proposals.

Manchester United hold takeover talks with delegation representing Sheikh Jassim

17:20 , Michael Jones

Prospective Manchester United owner Sheikh Jassim’s representatives held positive, constructive talks during their visit to the club last Thursday, it is understood.

It was announced in November that the Old Trafford giants’ owners, the Glazer family, were conducting a strategic review and a sale was one option being considered.

Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani and Ineos founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe have bid to buy United, with both parties visiting the club this week.

Sheikh Jassim did not travel to Manchester but sent a strong delegation, with a visit to Old Trafford followed by presentations and conversations at Carrington.

It is understood Shahzad Shahbaz, president of Sheikh Jassim’s Nine Two Foundation, was in attendance along with the Qatari banker’s personal advisor Fady Bakhos.

Man United hold takeover talks with delegation representing Sheikh Jassim

Manchester United takeover news - Qatar ready to increase offer amid new strategy to secure takeover

17:10 , Michael Jones

Qatar is expected to significantly increase their offer for Manchester United this week, with the big question being whether it will be enough to go beyond INEOS’ valuation of the club, and ultimately match that of the Glazer family.

That also reflects one of the considerations that has weighed over the entire process, which is whether the Gulf state will ultimately just put up the bid that “blows everyone out of the water”.

There has been some surprise that hasn’t been the strategy from the start, given that it would have been very easy for Qatar to go to the Glazers and say they would pay the necessary amount before it all got under way. Some industry figures believe that is down to not playing their hand so early.

Others, somewhat connected to that, believe it is part of a new strategy from the state to illustrate these are proper business investments.

Qatar ready to increase Man Utd offer amid new takeover strategy

New offers expected as Man Utd sale deadline approaches

17:00 , Michael Jones

Time is running out for prospective bidders to make their offers to buy Manchester United.

Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe have been the only two figures to go public with their interest but it is likely there will be other proposals received before Wednesday’s 9pm deadline.

It is understood Sheikh Jassim will submit a second indicative bid before the cut-off but INEOS founder Ratcliffe has been more circumspect in his assessment of the process, insisting he will not pay a “stupid” price as the bidding war hots up.

United’s owners the Glazer family have reportedly set a £6bn figure for their valuation of a club they bought for £750m in a highly-leveraged deal in 2005.

New offers expected as Man Utd sale deadline approaches

What happens after the deadline?

16:50 , Michael Jones

The Manchester United takeover race is nearing the next stage as the interested parties including Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, have until 9pm on Wednesday to submit their second offers.

And after that the picture around the club’s future ownership should become clearer even though the possibility that the Glazer family decide not to sell is a possibilty.

Raine Group, the merchant bank overseeing the process on behalf of the Glazers, are expected to decide on a preferred bid following this round of offers.

From there the Glazers will evaluate its contents and the chosen prospective buyer would be granted access to confidential financial information about the club as part of their own due diligence.

What is the issue with PSG’s Qatari ownership?

16:40 , Michael Jones

Sheikh Jassim is said to be financing his bid for Manchster United via private wealth but his family has close links to Qatar’s ruling elite and this has raised questions about the source his funding.

His father had controlled the money at the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) for years. The QIA is the £370 billion fund which helps to back Paris Saint-Germain through its subsidiary Qatar Sports Investment (QSI).

Sheikh Jassim’s bid group has repeatedly claimed the funding for the club is independent of the QIA. Last week they assured United that they are confident the rules prohibiting clubs with the same owner playing in the same competition would not be broken.

Should that claim turn out to be false then PSG and Manchester United would be not allowed to both compete in the Champions League for example.

However, even if state funding was proven, Uefa president Alesander Ceferin may be willing to look the other way. He said this month that European football’s governing body was considering a rule change that would allow clubs with the same owner to play in the Champions League simultaneously.

Manchester United takeover: Sir Jim Ratcliffe to submit improved bid before deadline

16:30 , Michael Jones

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS group will submit an improved bid for Manchester United by tonight’s deadline, The Independent understands.

Bidders for Manchester United have until 9pm tonight to submit their second offers for the club, in what is a crucial stage of the takeover process.

The Independent has reported that Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani is also prepared to up his bid for the Old Trafford club.

Both parties - which are the only groups to publicly declare their interest - visited Manchester United for meetings last week.

Bids will be handled by the Raine group, but it is understood the Glazer family are split over whether they want to sell the club or retain minority ownership.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe to submit improved bid for Manchester United

Sir Jim Ratcliffe prepared to match world-record bid

16:20 , Michael Jones

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS team are preparing to match Sheikh Jassim’s world record bid according to the Independent’s Miguel Delaney.

United targeting Watford up-and-comer

16:10 , Michael Jones

A report from the Evening Standard claims United are close to signing Watford teenager Harry Amass who is also begin scouted by Chelsea.

The 16-year-old defender made the Hornets’ first-team in January at just 15 years old and as an England U16 international lifted silverware for his country in last month’s Uefa development tournament.

Greed has brought football to the brink of implosion – now the entire structure could collapse

16:00 , Michael Jones

In the early Nineties, a group of European football figures travelled to the US to garner some advice on how to grow the game, only to be given a warning by one of the American sports officials.

“If you think you’ve got problems now, wait until you start making money.”

It was counsel that has come to describe football in 2023.

The game’s giddy embrace of late-stage capitalism has made it an immense financial and cultural force. To the point, the major American sports are now said to be “petrified” of its growing US influence ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The build-up to that, and the sport’s final and full global takeover, might nevertheless bring a breaking point in football history. That is because – as with so much in late-stage capitalism – the opulent top end is better off than ever before but the rest has never been worse. The game has grown to a size where it is this gleaming cultural monolith but one filled with several structural faultlines.

Some of these have been revealed and widened by major stories of the last few weeks, only signalling how close we may be to something very significant.

Manchester United could spark football’s ‘Big Short’ moment

Sevilla appoint Jose Luis Mendilibar

15:50 , Michael Jones

Sevilla have named Jose Luis Mendilibar as their new manager ahead of their Europa League tie vs Manchester United next month.

The Spaniards sacked Jorge Sampaoli on Tuesday amid a dismal season in La Liga with the club trying to bat off relegation. Sevilla are 14th but only two points off Valencia, who occupy the last the relegation zone place.

The six time Europa League champions take on United in the quarter-finals of the competition.

‘We will see’: Marcel Sabitzer addresses uncertain Manchester United future

15:42 , Michael Jones

Marcel Sabitzer is making no predictions over his Manchester United future after getting his first goal for the club in their come-from-behind FA Cup quarter-final victory over Fulham.

The Cottagers’ second-half meltdown, in which referee Chris Kavanagh showed three red cards in 40 seconds to dismiss manager Marco Silva, Willian and goalscorer Aleksandr Mitrovic, was the story of United’s 3-1 win, meaning Sabitzer’s first Old Trafford strike was slightly lost in the furore.

But it was Sabitzer who gave United the lead, flicking home a low Luke Shaw cross from close range, only two minutes after Bruno Fernandes had levelled from the penalty spot, with Fernandes’ stoppage-time strike merely adding gloss against Fulham’s nine men.

‘We will see’: Marcel Sabitzer addresses uncertain Manchester United future

United move not on the cards for De Jong

15:34 , Michael Jones

Barcelona playmaker Frenkie de Jong has once again claimed tp have no interest in joining Manchester United.

The Dutchman was extensively linked with a move to Old Trafford last summer, and remains high on Erik ten Hag’s target list, but he has confirmed on multiple occasions that he is happy at the Nou Camp.

He doubled down on that stance when he was asked if he would be joining United after Barcelona’s win over Real Madrid on Sunday telling Ziggo Sport: “No, I don’t think so. You never know of course. But I’m very happy in Barcelona.

“From the summer until now it has improved for me here. I play almost every game, it makes me feel so satisfied. I am a better player now than what I was when I signed for Barca.”

Major Old Trafford refurb needed from new owners

15:27 , Michael Jones

One of the major issues with the Glazer family ownership is the decline that has happened to the stadium.

Old Trafford’s decay is visible evident in comparison to the new stadiums of rivals Manchester City and Tottenham and the prospective new owners whether they are Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani or Sir Jim Ratcliffe or an as of yet unknown bidder will have to liven up the stadium.

“The place is just tired. It still has character as it’s old but the place is so far behind the times. It’s embarrassing walking in here and seeing rust and roofs leaking. It feels small-time,” United fan Alwyn Robson, 45, told The Telegraph before Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final win over Fulham.

“It still has a charm about it but the food and beer is second rate and it’s so small inside. You end up having to leave about five to 10 minutes before half-time just to make sure you get a lukewarm pie.”

James Young who sells fanzine United We Stand – an independent publication for fans, by fans at home games added:

“It’s not good enough, it’s a mess of a situation compared to the more modern grounds,” he said. “It isn’t fit for purpose any more.

“Look at what Man City have done over the road. Round here, there’s so much more United can do. There’s better grounds in the Premier League and Old Trafford hasn’t kept up.”

What is the difference between Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s bids?

15:19 , Michael Jones

Although neither Sheikh Jassim nor Si Jim Ratcliffe is thought to have surpassed £5billion with their initial bids both are expected to get closer to the mark with the second round of bidding closing at 9pm tonight.

However, the two bids were for different stakes of ownership and brought different options to the table for Manchester United as a football club.

Sheikh Jassim wants to complete a full takeover of United, meaning he would buy the Glazer family’s 69 per cent and then purchase the remaining 31 per cent, which is made up of smaller investors. This could take some time as he would have to contact and negotiate with each investor to buy out their shares.

The Qatari banker has also made several pledges to invest in specific areas of the club - such as renovating the stadium - leaving United in debt following the cas purchase.

Ratcliffe’s bid is only for the Glazers’ 69 per cent and a majority shareholder stake. At this stage he is not offering to buy out the remaining shareholders.

He would have to borrow money to finance any takeover and his company INEOS has not committed to paying off the club’s debt, which sits at £656 million.

Those close to his bid are saying that no new debt will be loaded onto the club but it remains to be seen if Ratcliffe would pay off the debt over time.

Sheikh Jassim to make world-record bid for Manchester United

15:17 , Michael Jones

Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani will make a world-record bid for Manchester United. The current record is £3.75bn for a sports team.

The Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group stumped up the cash for the Denver Broncos last summer.

Sky Sports say that the figure will be somewhere between £4-6 billion but do not know whether that will be enough to convince the Glazer family to sell the club.

Rashford injury a big blow to England

15:12 , Michael Jones

Marcus Rashford has withdrawn from the England squad due to injury.

The forward picked up a knock in Manchester United’s 3-1 FA Cup quarter-final win over Fulham on Sunday and was substituted seven minutes from time.

The 25-year-old had earlier received treatment after a knock in the build-up to Fulham’s opener from Aleksandar Mitrovic five minutes after half-time.

With no Premier League games until April 1st, the club could be taking precautions to make sure Rashfrod is fit and firing for the backend of the season.

Gareth Southgate has other options to turn to but an in form Rashford will be a huge miss for the Three Lions.

Man Utd’s Europa League opponents Sevilla sack boss Jorge Sampaoli

15:05 , Michael Jones

Sevilla have sacked boss Jorge Sampaoli in a bid to stave off LaLiga relegation.

Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to Getafe left them just two points above the bottom three in a congested bottom half of the table and the club have acted in removing the former Argentina and Marseille manager.

Sevilla are due to play Manchester United in the Europa League quarter-finals after the current international break.

“Sevilla FC have today relieved Jorge Sampaoli of his duties,” a statement on their club website read.

Man Utd’s Europa League opponents Sevilla sack boss Jorge Sampaoli

Berbatov encourages United to sign Osimhen

14:58 , Michael Jones

Former Manchester United forward Dimitar Berbatov has given his thoughts on how to boost the current squad and says that the club so go all out to sign Napoli striker Victor Osimhen this summer.

“Victor Osimhen. The guy is unbelievable at the moment,” he said, “He’s very young, he’s great in the air, his speed is exceptional and the goals he’s scoring for Napoli are unbelievable.

“If they do go for a striker in the summer, then they should go for him over everybody else.”

Wout Weghorst defends United selection

14:50 , Michael Jones

Wout Weghorst has come under fire by football pundits for the apparant lack of quality his brings to Manchester United as a centre-forward.

Now the Dutchman, who has played in every game since signing on loan from Burnley, has fired back at that critism.

“That’s a lot of matches and it shows the trust in me.” he said, “It also shows that I am doing a good job for the team. That was the thing I wanted when I came here – to contribute and try and help the club to be successful to win trophies. We have one now.

“We have two more to go with the Europa League and FA Cup, and we want to get as high as possible in the table and definitely top four for the Champions League.

“So it just shows me that I am being part of it. And being part of us being successful and that appreciation, that’s a good thing.”

Who is Sir Jim Ratcliffe?

14:42 , Michael Jones

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is readying to submit a second bid to buy out the Glazer family and become the majority shareholder of Manchester United.

Ratfcliffe grew up on a council estate in Manchester and supported the Old Trafford club as a child.

Up until the past few years Ratcliffe had kept a low profile for a billionaire. He had a relatively modest upbringing in Lancashire and then Yorkshire during the 1950s and 60s before studying at the University of Birmingham and London Business School, and made his fortune recovering struggling companies in the oil and gas sector.

Politically, he is a passionate Brexiteer as well as a strong advocate for fracking, with Ineos poised to be one of the leaders should the UK’s shale gas industry take off. He has courted controversy after not only moving himself to a tax haven in Monaco but also his company’s headquarters, shifting Ineos to a new base in Switzerland in 2010 before it returned to London five years later.

Ineos is the fourth largest chemical company in the world, reporting a profit of £474m in 2021.

Who is Sheikh Jassim?

14:34 , Michael Jones

Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, fell in love with Manchester United at the age of 10, and has pledged to restore the club to its former glories should his proposed takeover prove successful.

The chairman of Qatari bank QIB, formerly on the board of Credit Suisse, has indicated his offer would leave United debt-free, in contrast to the Glazer family’s controversial leveraged buy-out in 2003.

Educated at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, Al Thani’s ‘Nine Two Foundation’ is a nod to the Class of 92 who were an integral part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s side which delivered two Champions League crowns as well as dominating domestic football.

His father Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani was Qatar’s Prime Minister between 2007 and 2013.

It is understood, though, that there is no operational or legal link between Al Thani’s bid for United and Qatar Sports Investments, which owns French giants Paris St Germain.

A chemical company boss and a Qatari sheikh – Man Utd’s two confirmed bidders

14:27 , Michael Jones

Wednesday is set to be a key day in the battle to buy Manchester United, with interested parties reportedly told to submit second, revised bids by a deadline of 9pm.

It is not known how many bidders there are or if some, rather than seeking full control, are offering to support the current owners, the Glazer family, with significant investment.

However, there are two parties who have chosen to make their intentions public in Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, and both are looking to make a full takeover.

Here, the PA news agency looks at these two confirmed bidders:

A chemical company boss and a Qatari sheikh – Man Utd’s two confirmed bidders

‘I dream of playing in Premier League’ says Osimhen

14:19 , Michael Jones

Are these quotes from Napoli’s Victor Osimhen a sign of his imminent arrival in the Premier League this summer?

Speaking earlier this month, Osimhen said: “I think playing in one of the top five leagues in the world (Serie A) is an amazing feeling for me. A lot of people worldwide consider the Premier League as the best and the strongest league but now I’m in one of the best leagues in the world which is the Italian Serie A.

“I’m working so hard to make sure that I achieve my dream of playing in the Premier League someday but, like I said, it’s a process and I just want to keep on this momentum and continue to do well.”

The striker has scored 25 goals this season propelling Napoli to the top of the Serie A table and into the Champions League quarter-finals.

He’s been the subject of a possible move to Old Trafford as Erik ten Hag needs to bring in a mainline striker following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo.

United are also interested in Tottenham’s Harry Kane but with a triple figure price tag expected for both players the 24-year-old Osimhen may be the more astute investment.

Napoli increase price for Osimhen

14:13 , Michael Jones

Napoli have upped their asking price for striker Victor Osimhen amid reported interest from Manchester United, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.

According to Il Mattino, the Serie A leaders will now demand as much as £150million for the 24-year-old Nigerian, who was previously valued at around £107m.

It was reported in Italy that PSG had pencilled in talks with Osimhen’s agents and United are keeping their eyes on the situation as well with Osimhen keen on a move to the Premier League.

Usain Bolt thanks Erik ten Hag for bringing ‘glory days’ back to Old Trafford

14:06 , Michael Jones

Lifelong fan Usain Bolt thanked Erik ten Hag for “bringing the glory days back” to Old Trafford when the world’s fastest man met the Manchester United’s manager at the weekend.

The 100 metres world record holder enjoyed a memorable visit to the north west as the Red Devils secured a 3-1 comeback win against Fulham in Sunday’s chaotic FA Cup quarter-final.

The reward for Ten Hag’s men – who also progressed to the Europa League quarter-finals last week – is a semi-final against Brighton at Wembley, where they have already triumphed this season.

February’s Carabao Cup win ended a six-year wait for silverware – the club’s longest trophy drought in 40 years – and Bolt expressed gratitude to the United boss upon meeting him after Sunday’s game.

Usain Bolt thanks Erik ten Hag for bringing ‘glory days back’ to Old Trafford

Ratcliffe makes ‘good impression’ on tour of Old Trafford

13:58 , Michael Jones

Last week the prospective bidders for Manchester United were given tours around Old Trafford and the Carrington Training Ground.

Talks between club executives and the potential new owners last between seven and 10 hours depending on the group and the Daily Mail are reporting that Sir Jim Ratcliffe made a ‘good impression’ on those involved in the process.

Qatari Sheikh Jassim is bidding to buy 100% of Manchester United’s shares, which will be difficult and time-consuming, but he has promised to clear the club’s debt.

Incomparison Ratcliffe is seeking to buy the 69 per cent stake currently owned by the Glazer family so that he would become the majority stakeholder and de facto owner.

Around eight groups in total were given tours of the stadium and training ground.

Manchester United’s share price increases

13:51 , Michael Jones

Manchester United’s share price has climbed up by 3.74% to $23.56 (£19.23) from $22.71 (£18.53) since the stock exchange opened on Monday after reports that the Qatari consortium interested in buying the club will make an official second bid tomorrow.

Investment platform Saxo believe that this share price boost also comes as a result of Erik Ten Hag’s side reaching the FA Cup semi-finals along with positive speculation surrounding a potential acquisition of the club which could open the floodgates for United to spend heavily ahead of the start of next season.

Money men working out true value of Manchester United

13:44 , Michael Jones

With Sheikh Jassim reportedly willing to overpay for Manchester United an insider close to the deal in the United States told Sky Sports:

“All the numbers people from the bidders will be working out the real value of the club over the next few days. They will be making second bids. The reality is their first bids were just indicative.

“In this process, the second bids next week are really the first serious bids.”

The Glazer family believe Manchester United is worth at least £6bn but the closest anyone has come to matching that valuation were the bids from Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim who both proposed around £4.5bn.

Prospective Man United buyer Sir Jim Ratcliffe is ‘passionate and invested’ in French Ligue 1 club

13:37 , Michael Jones

Aaron Ramsey has described prospective Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe as “very passionate” in his desire to take his Nice team “all the way to the top”.

Ramsey joined Nice on a free transfer last summer and has helped them into the top seven of Ligue 1 and the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League after a difficult start to the season.

“It’s been quite nice, really enjoyable. there’s worse places in the world to be playing,” new Wales captain Ramsey said at a press conference before opening Euro 2024 qualifiers against Croatia and Latvia.

“The owner is very passionate and very invested into Nice.”

Prospective Man Utd buyer Ratcliffe ‘passionate’ in French club Nice

Qataris circling £5.5bn bid for Manchester United

13:30 , Michael Jones

Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani will reportedly offer £5.5bn to buy United in an effort to knock Sir Jim Ratcliffe out of the race.

The Mirror claims that while Ratcliffe is understood to have increased his bid for United, he is not thought to have gone as high as £5.5bn, which could see the Qataris secure the sale.

Manchester United Women draw Brighton in FA Cup

13:22 , Michael Jones

Defending FA Cup champions Chelsea face a trip to Aston Villa in the semi-finals of the Women’s FA Cup whilst Manchester United host Brighton in the other tie, with both teams in the last four for the first time.

The semi-finals will take place on Sunday, 16th April, with the final at Wembley on Sunday, 14th May.

2022/23 Women’s FA Cup semi-final draw

Manchester United vs Brighton

Aston Villa vs Chelsea

Paul Scholes hopes fan unrest ends if Manchester United get new owners

13:15 , Michael Jones

Paul Scholes hopes the potential sale of Manchester United will bring to an end years of fan unrest.

The Glazer family are considering selling the Old Trafford giants after 18 years of controversial ownership.

The Americans have invited interested parties to submit plans to take the club forward, which could either mean a full takeover or significant investment.

So far two bidders, Ineos owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim, have gone public with plans to take outright control of the club but there could be other interest.

Former United midfielder Scholes has no preference over who might take charge but just hopes it does happen for the sake of harmony.

Paul Scholes hopes fan unrest ends if Manchester United get new owners

Scholes on United takeover

13:07 , Michael Jones

Former Manchester United star and current football pundit Paul Scholes has had his say on the potential takeover of the club.

“I hope it’s something that gets sorted soon. If the ownership is a done deal in a couple of months that will hopefully help the manager and maybe bring more funds,” he said,

“Although I don’t think any manager has been left short by the owners we have now, I think the club are ready for a change. It’s pretty obvious the fans are ready.

“Of course the last thing you want is protests around the ground. As soon as the new owners come in, if it ever does happen, all that will stop and hopefully we can move forward.’”

Summer moves for Manchester United

13:00 , Michael Jones

Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay is reportedly a summer transfer target for Newcastle, according to The Telegraph.

The 26-year-old Scotland international has had limited opportunities at Old Trafford this season, thanks to the arrivals of Casemiro and Marcel Sabitzer, and is believed to be open to the move.

The Times say are also reporting that Tottenham want at least £100million up front if striker Harry Kane goes on the market this summer.

The 29-year-old England captain has a year left on his contract and Manchester United are seemingly interested in bringing in the striker.

Qatar takeover of Man United would be new nadir for English football

12:52 , Michael Jones

A Qatari state takeover of Manchester United would be nothing short of an English football travesty.

This is a moment of enormity for the sport. The concern is two-fold, both having a multiplying effect on the other to pose a potentially irreversible impact on the game. At its moral core, there is English football’s biggest club being made to represent the biggest problem in football right now. United would be politically used to mitigate one of the most criticised human rights records on earth, centred on a labour system described as modern slavery, consequently making this noble institution complicit.

United would no longer just be about Salford, Manchester and a community of fans thrilled by a glorious history of adventure and defiance. It would be about Qatar, its foreign policy and the kind of issues that just shouldn’t be a concern for football. “Sportswashing” is too soft a description for what is actually happening here, especially when you consider the other issue.

The purchase of United by a state bid would mean the three primary countries driving the Gulf blockade all finally own major clubs in England, including the biggest of all. What would it say for what the Premier League is? The most watched league in the world would become the most morally compromised, by far greater degrees. The competition would be turned into a political arena. Manchester would be turned into a political arena. Nobody should be under any illusions about that.

Qatar takeover of Man United would be new nadir for English football

Manchester United have best home support according to fan survey

12:43 , Michael Jones

A survey of 1002 Premier League away match-attending fans, condecuted by Midnite, has discovered which stadiums have the best atmospheres.

According to the results, Old Trafford is the highest voted for best home support in the Premier League, agreed by 20.46% of the fans.

With a capacity of 74,000, Erik ten Hag has changed the atmosphere in and around Manchester United with his impressive results making Old Trafford the fortress it once was again.

39% of Newcastle United fans voted the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ as their favourite away day atmosphere when they travel down from the Northern border.

Anfield takes second place with 17.64% of the vote.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag staying ‘focused’ on priorities amid takeover talk

12:37 , Michael Jones

Erik ten Hag has revealed he has met Sir Jim Ratcliffe as the billionaire bids to buy Manchester United.

Ratcliffe, a lifelong United fan whose chemical company Ineos are among the potential purchasers, was at their Carrington training complex on Friday as talks continue to buy out the Glazer family’s 69 percent share in the club.

“I just met him and shook hands but I am focused on the game,” said Ten Hag, before his team faced Fulham in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday. “Others in the club are dealing with potential investors.”

Man United boss Ten Hag keeps focus on priorities amid takeover talk

Sir Jim Ratcliffe could bring in financial backers to boost bid

12:30 , Michael Jones

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly considering a number of other financial backers to help him beat Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani in the Manchester United takeover race.

The Qatari banker is the current frontrunner to complete a takeover of the club though Ratcliffe seeks to bring in other parties to bolster his position ahead of Wednesday’s 9pm soft deadline.

The Daily Mail reports that the petrochemical billionaire interest in other parties is to try and increase the scope of his bid with second bids likely to surpass the £5bn mark.

Manchester United not worth Glazers’ valuation says finance expert

12:24 , Michael Jones

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire says the suggestion that the Glazer family would receive more than £5billion for the Red Devils is way off the mark.

In a similar comparision Todd Boehly’s consortium bought Chelsea for £4bn and with Manchester United being a more historically rich and successful side, not to mention more commerically viable, then the Glazers’ valuation doesn’t seem too over the top.

“Manchester United is a much bigger football club than Chelsea,” Maguire told CNN. “It’s got a bigger ground. It’s got a bigger fan base. It’s a much more well-known brand.

“It’s a bit like putting up your house for sale and you give a rough guide price. The Glazers are looking for $7.2 to $9.6 billion. It’s probably not worth that … and it comes down to how much each party is willing to compromise or to pay in terms of extra financial commitments.”

Who else is in the running?

12:17 , Michael Jones

Sheikh Jassim of Qatar and Si Jim Ratcliffe are the faces of the two most public bids for Manchester United but up to eight interested parties toured Old Trafford and the Carrington training ground last week.

Elliott Investment Management, a US hedge fund, are known to have contacted Raine, the bank handling the sale for the Glazer family. They’re offer is to help finance any takeover and have indicated it would give assistance to the Glazers should a sale fail to materialise.

In that outcome Joel and Avram Glazer could potentially buy out their other siblings, as has been one rumoured option, though that borrowing would likely be leveraged against the club as opposed to the two individuals and would not go down well at all with Manchester United fans.

Other investment groups — including Ares Management, which refused to comment on its involvement — are thought to have also offered their capital to potential bidders and the Glazer family.

Ramsey says Ratcliffe is invested in Nice

12:10 , Michael Jones

Aaron Ramsey insists Manchester United’s bidder Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to take Nice “to the top”. Ratcliffe, who is a United fan, bought Nice in 2019 for £88million.

He has since attempted to buy Chelsea and now is in the running for ownership of Manchester United. Should Ratcliffe win the bidding process he may have to part ways with the French side to avoid conflicts of interest in European clashes though that is an unlikely prospect.

Wales captain, Ramsey, who plays in midfield for Nice, said: “The owner is very passionate and very invested into Nice and wants to take Nice all the way up to the top. It’s a great project to be a part of.

“It just feels like a family-orientated club. I’m really enjoying my football at the moment, we had a change after the World Cup with the management and they’ve hit the ground running and settled in really well.”

Sheikh Jassim ‘very confident’ about Manchester United takeover

12:02 , Michael Jones

Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani is said to be “very confident” second bid to buy Manchester United can win over the Glazer family.

With the sale expected to hit around £5 billion only the Qataris are able to do a deal without Wall Street lending or investment meaning they are on a very strong footing.

Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase and Co are understood to be helping bankroll Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s offer with a mix of bonds and loans beyond the value of United’s existing gross debt of £680m.

Ratcliffe’s track record of successful investments makes him a safer bet than many for loans but the outside market conditions may affect his bid.

Credit Suisse were rescued by arch rival UBS over the weekend and the associated write off of $17 billion of loans means investment banks in the US are wary further losses.

More recently Barclays has shelved two loans for Ratcliffe’s Ineos Enterprises, according to Bloomberg, but The Telegraph report sources close to Ratcliffe were dismissive that the market conditions could harm his bid.

The same report says that Sheikh Jassim, the chairman of Qatar Islamic Bank, is very confident that his debt-free bid is the best offer on the table and will be the most beneficial for the club.

Prospective bidders have until 9pm tonight to submit their proposals.

How close are the Qataris to buying Manchester United?

11:49 , Michael Jones

Sky Sports are reporting that talks between Manchester United executives and Sheikh Jassim’s Qatari delegation last Thursday were very positive and advisers are now working on putting together a new bid to be submitted by close of business on Wednesday.

Like Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the Qatari bidders were determined not to pay over the odds for the club but that stance has reportedly coolled following the delegation’s visit to Old Trafford.

The talks were held across 10 hours which was a lot longer than expected.

Sheikh Jassim and members of his team had been to Old Trafford as fans before, and the focus of this visit was to get a perspective on what they could do with their capital investment regarding infrastructure, youth development and the women’s team.

Will the Glazers actually sell Manchester United?

11:43 , Michael Jones

The Glazer family say that will definitely sell Manchester United if the right price comes in from one of the prospective bidders. The current asking prcie from the Glazers is believed to be £6bn.

The two frontrunners, Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe are believed to have tabled bids worth £4.5bn in the first round of the takeover process.

Should the Glazers valuation not be met they could raise capital for investment in the club and pay down its debt.

It cannot be rueld out that the Glazers will keep control of United by agreeing a minority deal, with the team’s performances improving dramatically and a new strategy now in place.

Greed has brought football to the brink of implosion – now the entire structure could collapse

11:36 , Michael Jones

Back in the early 1990s, a group of European football figures travelled to the United States for advice on how to grow the game, only to be given a warning by one of the American sports officials.

“If you think you’ve got problems now, wait until you start making money.”

It was counsel that has come to archly describe football in 2023.

The game’s giddy embrace of late-stage capitalism has made it an immense financial and cultural force, to the point the major American sports are now said to be “petrified” of its growing US influence ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The build-up to that, and the sport’s final and full global takeover, might nevertheless bring a breaking point in football history. That is because – as with so much in late-stage capitalism – the opulent top end is better off than ever before but the wider health of the rest has never been worse. The game has grown to a size where it is this gleaming cultural monolith but one filled with several structural faultlines.

Some of these have been revealed and widened by major stories of the last few weeks, only signalling how close we may be to something very significant.

Manchester United could spark football’s ‘Big Short’ moment

Sheikh Jassim ‘willing to overpay’ for Manchester United

11:30 , Michael Jones

Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani would now be “willing to overpay” for Manchester United with a figure closer to the Glazers’ £6bn price tag when he makes a second bid for the club on Wednesday say Sky Sports.

It was previously expected that the Qatari bidders were determined not to pay over the odds for the club, a stance echoed by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the visit to Old Trafford by a delegation representing Sheikh Jassim has changed things.

Following long, constructive meetings and consultations with his bankers and advisers in Qatar last Friday Sheikh Jassim is said to be putting together what he believes will be a compelling offer for the club.

Glazers set second deadline for proposals

11:24 , Michael Jones

Those bidding to buy Manchester United will have until 9pm today to officially submit their offers.

United chiefs are said to be expecting up to eight bids, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani still the two leading parties to succeed the Glazer family at Old Trafford.

But, according to Sky Sports, up to six new parties could enter the running before Wednesday’s deadline posed by Raine, the merchant bank running the sale process on the Glazers’ behalf.

Representatives for US hedge Elliott Management have also visited Old Trafford after making a proposal to finance a potential takeover or supplement the current ownership, with the American family continuing to weigh up whether to sanction a full sale or continue their ownership through minority investment.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe will not pay ‘stupid money’ for Manchester United

11:18 , Michael Jones

Sir Jim Ratcliffe says he will not pay a “stupid” price to acquire Manchester United as the petrochemicals billionaire prepares to go up against Qatari Sheikh Jassim in the race to buy the Premier League club.

The INEOS chief executive and his team held talks with United last Friday during a visit to Old Trafford and the Carrington training complex.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, the 70-year-old said: “How do you decide the price of a painting? How do you decide the price of a house? It’s not related to how much it cost to build or how much it cost to paint.

“What you don’t want to do is pay stupid prices for things because then you regret it subsequently.”

New offers expected as Man Utd sale deadline approaches

11:12 , Luke Baker

Time is running out for prospective bidders to make their offers to buy Manchester United.

Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe have been the only two figures to go public with their interest but it is likely there will be other proposals received before Wednesday’s 9pm deadline.

It is understood Sheikh Jassim will submit a second indicative bid before the cut-off but INEOS founder Ratcliffe has been more circumspect in his assessment of the process, insisting he will not pay a “stupid” price as the bidding war hots up.

New offers expected as Man Utd sale deadline approaches

Eight bids expected to come in for Manchester United

11:06 , Luke Baker

There could be as many as eight bidders who send proposals to the Glazer family before Wednesday’s deadline as part of the next stage of the Manchester United takeover.

The two main bidders remain Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani of Qatar who went public with their initial bids but Sky Sports claim that six other proposals could rival them as the Glazers weigh up the best offers.

Other interested parties have decided to remain anonymous but that could change after Wednesday’s deadline if the current owners like one of more of their proposals.

Manchester United hold takeover talks with delegation representing Sheikh Jassim ahead of Ineos visit

11:00 , Luke Baker

Prospective Manchester United owner Sheikh Jassim’s representatives held positive, constructive talks during their visit to the club last Thursday, it is understood.

It was announced in November that the Old Trafford giants’ owners, the Glazer family, were conducting a strategic review and a sale was one option being considered.

Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani and Ineos founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe have bid to buy United, with both parties visiting the club this week.

Sheikh Jassim did not travel to Manchester but sent a strong delegation, with a visit to Old Trafford followed by presentations and conversations at Carrington.

It is understood Shahzad Shahbaz, president of Sheikh Jassim’s Nine Two Foundation, was in attendance along with the Qatari banker’s personal advisor Fady Bakhos.

Man United hold takeover talks with delegation representing Sheikh Jassim

Manchester United takeover news - Qatar ready to increase offer amid new strategy to secure takeover

10:59 , Luke Baker

Qatar is expected to significantly increase their offer for Manchester United this week, with the big question being whether it will be enough to go beyond INEOS’ valuation of the club, and ultimately match that of the Glazer family.

That also reflects one of the considerations that has weighed over the entire process, which is whether the Gulf state will ultimately just put up the bid that “blows everyone out of the water”.

There has been some surprise that hasn’t been the strategy from the start, given that it would have been very easy for Qatar to go to the Glazers and say they would pay the necessary amount before it all got under way. Some industry figures believe that is down to not playing their hand so early.

Others, somewhat connected to that, believe it is part of a new strategy from the state to illustrate these are proper business investments.

Qatar ready to increase Man Utd offer amid new takeover strategy