A new week has arrived, and it feels like Manchester United fans, staff, and bidders are no closer to learning the Glazers' sale decision. Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and Sir Jim Ratcliffe are patiently waiting for communication, ready to complete a takeover at Old Trafford.
There has been a new suggestion that the delay is due to the Glazers opting against selling altogether. It would be the worst-case scenario for many after eight months of belief that new owners would be arriving this year.
Sheikh Jassim remains the favourite if a sale goes through after he was snapped in a rare public image last week. And he's been sent a clear message from supporters, viewed as the club's savour by much of the fanbase.
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Be sure to check out today's new live blog from Express Sport, covering all the latest news and updates surrounding the potential Manchester United takeover and the Glazers' big upcoming vote.
Manchester United's share price closed with a seven per cent increase after the club announced record revenue figures today.
The Red Devils are still saddled with over £700million of debt but Tuesday's financial statement appears to have gone down well with the market.
Plenty will be keeping an eye on the ownership situation in the next few days as the Glazers could pick either Sheikh Jassim or Sir Jim Ratcliffe to take over.
Manchester United\u2019s share price \u2b06\ufe0f 7% following publication of Q3 accounts today, adding $250 million to market capitalisation of the company now at $3.91 bn. pic.twitter.com/jkRxXMfkba
\u2014 Kieran Maguire (@KieranMaguire) June 27, 2023
Manchester United supporters' group The 1958 have released a statement condemning the Glazers after their protest at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
They temporarily shut down the club shop amid the new kit's release and called on the current owners to sell up.
They wrote: "Let’s make this crystal clear. Today was never about numbers on a working and non-match day.
"It was about sending a statement and the bad optics against this ownership across the world. The focus flipping to the fan contempt against Glazer decay rather than a shameless overpriced kit launch.
"We will continue to be fearless in any action or strategy we take. Massive respect to everyone who sacrificed their own time today to make a stand for the club they love.
"To the detractors look within and ask yourself do you really love this club? To the aggregators shamelessly peddling the Glazer agenda. Your time will come. To the obsessed rival fans.
"Concentrate on your own club and hope you never have owners like Glazer. To those who love our club we will see this out together. Keep believing.
"In the next couple of days we move to online sponsorship and email campaigns. Until they are gone."
Manchester United are reportedly set to discuss Mason Mount's future with Chelsea directly, after failing to agree on a fee.
The Red Devils have had three bids turned down in their pursuit of Mount, the latest valued at £55million.
United are struggling to reach the heights of previous windows due to FFP concerns and the ongoing takeover, but could be ready to reach a compromise by returning to talks with Chelsea.
The Glazers' delay continues to drag on after initially announcing in November that they would consider selling Manchester United.
Both Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe have made numerous bids close to their £6billion valuation and are awaiting to discover who is chosen to take over at Old Trafford.
The Daily Mail have claimed that as of last night no preferred bidder had been chosen and any agreement is yet to be struck.
Manchester United are being forced to consider Financial Fair Play at a serious level this summer as Erik ten Hag is having his transfer budget trimmed.
ESPN have claimed that despite posting a record year of revenue, historic spending in the window has led United to be hamstrung by FFP.
Supporters will hope that new owners in either Sheikh Jassim or Sir Jim Ratcliffe will be able to provide a cash injection, but both will still have to comply with UEFA's financial regulations.
Erik ten Hag is being forced to watch his spending this summer. (Image: Getty)
Manchester United's current owners the Glazers are reportedly still considering offers from both Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Sky Sports have claimed that this summer's transfers will not be impacted by the sale, potentially ensuring that Erik ten Hag is forced to stick with the current transfer budget.
The club have already backed down from negotiations for Harry Kane and Declan Rice at valuations north of £100million.
However, the takeover saga looks set to rumble on further as supporters await the Glazers' decision - over seven months on from their initial statement confirming their intent to consider a sale.
\ud83d\udea8| The Glazer family are still considering bids from Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe for the sale of Manchester United. Summer recruitment will also not be impacted by the sale! pic.twitter.com/mFuH2RtdCd
\u2014 Football Daily (@footballdaily) June 27, 2023
Anti-Glazers protestors turned up at Old Trafford to call for the current owners to leave on Tuesday, as the club reported record revenues.
The 2023/24 kit was also unveiled on the same day, as noisy protestors halted the launch temporarily and made sure to give their say on the club's prospective new owners.
"It is not about who buys the club, it is about getting rid of the Glazers," said Richard, one of the protesters, to the BBC.
"We are going into month eight now. What is the hold up? What are they waiting for?
"It is a lot wider than transfers. It is not about stopping people buying a shirt. Today is an opportunity to show the Glazers that we might be near the end but we are not going anywhere until they have gone."
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag was reportedly behind the decision to U-turn on David De Gea's contract talks.
The goalkeeper had put pen to paper on a reduced contract, but after agreeing terms the club pulled out of the deal due to the Dutchman's concerns.
Ten Hag will hope that money is made available to land a new first-choice goalkeeper with De Gea set to leave on a free transfer, as Inter Milan's Andre Onana has been strongly linked with a move to Old Trafford.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has left Nice in limbo, as the French club he currently owns is searching for a new head coach to replace Didier Digard.
The INEOS chief has currently been putting his time and effort into purchasing Manchester United, leaving the Ligue 1 side largely in the dark over their budget for the coming season.
One big decision to be made is hiring frontrunner Francesco Farioli, now Ratcliffe is looking to speed up the process according to journalist Sacha Tavolieri.
Former Chelsea boss Graham Potter had been linked with the position, but he now appears unlikely to make the move across the English Channel.
Former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke has insisted that whoever out of Sheikh Jassim or Sir Jim Ratcliffe takes over is beside the point.
Yorke believes that the main benefit of the takeover is getting the Glazers out of the club, amid protests at Old Trafford today.
“It's very clear that everybody wants the Glazers out of Manchester United and I think it would be a good thing for the football club," he told BoyleSports.
“Everyone will have a divided opinion on the new owner. I know how Gary Neville and the likes make a big deal out of it on television, but I think fans just want to see an owner invest back into the club and care.
“Let the new owners buy the football club, invest, improve the stadium and training grounds and bring in new football players, that's what football fans want to see.
"It doesn't matter who comes in whether it's Ratcliffe or the Qataris, Manchester United should get the support it needs.”
Manchester United supporters have once again been left frustrated at the latest takeover update to emerge from the club.
According to the Manchester Evening News, sources close to Sheikh Jassim indicate that there have been 'no significant developments'.
That's despite fans protesting outside Old Trafford on Tuesday as the Red Devils' uncertainty continues.
"I think the Glazers don't want to sell," wrote @iamdevine007 on Twitter, while @47kasz added: "I hate the Glazers... I don't understand what they are waiting for."
Manchester United and Chelsea are set for a new round of talks over the next two days to discuss the transfer of Mason Mount, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Red Devils have submitted a £55million bid, but there is no indication that Chelsea will accept as they hold out for a higher fee.
The next set of negotiations could be the last, with the two clubs poised to make a 'final decision' over the player, who has only one year left on his Blues contract.
Understand Chelsea and Manchester United are prepared for direct contact this week to make final decision on Mason Mount deal. \ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udd34 #MUFC
Direct club to club talks will take place within 24/48h to understand how to proceed.
Manchester United could be set to miss out on long-standing transfer target Harry Kane.
Bayern Munich have kick-started the transfer saga by lodging an official bid with Tottenham which, according to The Athletic, is worth £60million plus add-ons.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is famously reluctant to sell the England captain to a Premier League rival.
And concerningly for United, Kane has given 'positive signs' over a move to Germany, which would see him join up with former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel.
Manchester United supporters have once again voiced their anger against the Glazers by forming a human blockade outside the Old Trafford megastore.
Red Devils fans are desperate to see the back of the American billionaire owners, who are yet to make a final decision on selling the club.
The timing was particularly telling as the Red Devils had only just released their brand new strip for the 2023/24 season. In normal circumstances, fans would be lined up outside the club shop to get their hands on the famous red shirt.
But with supporters coming out in numbers, United were forced to respond by temporarily closing the megastore. Banners spotted among the fans read 'We want our club back' and 'Don't feed the greed'.
Manchester United could be blocked from signing Neymar this summer if Kylian Mbappe leaves Paris Saint-Germain.
Mbappe is keen to run down his contract, but the Parisians would rather cash in while they can than lose him for free.
And bidding farewell to the big-name 24-year-old would prompt them to keep hold of Neymar, according to L'Equipe. Otherwise, PSG would face losing the Brazilian, Mbappe and Lionel Messi in the same transfer window.
United reportedly held talks with the French side over Neymar last month, with the 31-year-old unsettled amid friction with fans.
Manchester United are set to enter the race for Declan Rice by launching an audacious swap proposal, according to The Telegraph.
Arsenal and Manchester City have both submitted proposals worth £90million to West Ham, who are thought to be holding out for a nine-figure sum.
City reportedly lodged their offer on Monday, which included preferable payment terms and a higher guaranteed fee than the proposal tabled by the Gunners, but the door remains ajar after West Ham rejected both.
Now, United are considering a 'player-plus-cash' offer that could include either Harry Maguire or Scott McTominay to try and capitalise on the situation, although a request for more time may not go down well at the London Stadium.
Sheikh Jassim transfer dream risks going up in flames
Manchester United takeover hopeful Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani could see his dream Kylian Mbappe transfer go up in smoke.
Mbappe is reportedly one of Sheikh Jassim's dream recruits if he gets the nod to take the reins at Old Trafford. The Frenchman could be available this summer, too, after angering PSG bosses by announcing his desire to run down the final year of his contract.
But with the Glazers still at the helm and Sheikh Jassim patiently waiting to discover whether he has pipped fellow bidder Sir Jim Ratcliffe to the post, Mbappe's future risks being resolved before United have even entered the equation.
According to Le Parisien, PSG want a speedy response from the forward as to whether he will extend his contract at the Parc des Princes or leave the club this summer.
Signing a new deal would effectively take Mbappe off the market, while deciding to leave the club in the near future is sure to see rival suitors swoop in before United are in a position to make a move of their own.
Manchester United are poised to demand £45million for Jadon Sancho this summer, according to The Mirror.
The former Borussia Dortmund star is believed to be among a whole host of players deemed expendable by manager Erik ten Hag.
Accepting such an offer would land United with a painful loss on the £73m they shelled out back in 2021, and would symbolise Sancho's poor spell at Old Trafford, which has seen him score 12 goals in 79 appearances.
Manchester United owners the Glazers are the subject of new criticism from Finnish entrepreneur Thomas Zilliacus, who previously tabled a bid for the Red Devils.
Fans are still awaiting a final decision from the Glazers and Raine Group - the bank overseeing the process - with Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe deemed to be the front-runners.
"How many more months shall we read about United takeover news?" wrote Zilliacus on Twitter. "This is already the most farcical club takeover in history. Never seen anyone so unable to make a decision."
Thomas Zilliacus has criticised the Man Utd takeover process (Image: GETTY)
Man Utd Supporters Trust (MUST) has said a planned protest against the Glazers will take place outside the club's megastore on Tuesday.
The group has called for an end to the 'protracted' takeover talks.
Overwhelming majority of United fans want to see a conclusion to this protracted sale process with the majority supporting a full sale - at least based on our soundings.
Gary Neville has slammed the Glazers for the lack of communication with Manchester United fans across their 18-year reign as owners.
The Glazers have spoken directly to fans only a handful of times in almost two decades since their 2005 arrival.
And Neville believes they must sell up.
He told The Guardian: "What you want from leaders is good, clear communication. The Glazer family do the exact opposite.
"They're in a position of authority, looking after a community – and United's fans around the world are a global community – but the Glazers haven't communicated with them for nearly 20 years.
"The sale process is extending to an unpalatable length, everyone's in the dark, and it's symptomatic. They have to exit, but I haven't got faith that they'll do the right thing."
Manchester United will announce their financial results for the third quarter fiscal 2023 period on Tuesday.
The conference won't be directly linked to a takeover but will give the latest look at how the club's books are looking under the dwindling Glazer regime.
Manchester United plc (NYSE: MANU) will share the numbers from the period ending March 31, 2023, at 12pm.
Sam Matterface believes the Glazers will end up staying at Manchester United after the takeover saga entered its eighth month.
Speaking to ex-Arsenal winger Perry Groves on talkSPORT, Matterface shared his doubts about the Glazers' intentions.
He said: "What does that tell you? I think what it tells you is what I said to you when it first happened - I don't think they'll sell it.
"They never said they were going to sell it. They didn't put it up for sale. They actually said they were going to be looking for strategic alternatives for investment, including a full sale.
"So they opened offers for people to come in and say, 'yeah, we'll buy it, we'll do this, we'll do that, or we'll give you some money or invest a certain proportion'.
"But I think what they're trying to do, is get a huge amount of revenue into the club but at the same time retain a portion of the club."
Welcome to another day of Manchester United takeover news.
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