Man Utd takeover news: Sheikh Jassim hopes in ruins, £50m offer planned, new Onana bid
Manchester United takeover LIVE: Sir Jim Ratcliffe is still in the hunt to buy the club, despite Sheikh Jassim providing strong competition behhind the scenes.
LGBTQ+ activist concerned by potential Qatari takeover of Man Utd
Manchester United takeover updates are continuing to pour in, eight months after the Glazers first confirmed they were open to a potential sale. With the family yet to make a decision, however, it’s unclear what the future holds for the Red Devils. Sheikh Jassim is looking to seize 100 per cent control, while Sir Jim Ratcliffe is seeking just over 50 per cent.
Providing David de Gea accepts a hefty wage cut, Erik ten Hag is still willing to place his faith in the Spaniard, according to the Guardian.
The plan is to resume face-to-face discussions with De Gea while they continue to push for the signing of Andre Onana as his replacement. Neither side is said to be certain as to what will happen.
Red Devils icon Dwight Yorke says United's treatment of David de Gea has been "disrespectful".
He told BoyleSports: "The David de Gea situation is a bit disrespectful from Man United but they also have the right to do it. You never want to end your long career at such a big club, in turmoil.
"I understand how these football clubs work, but I also sympathise with the player. Man United have to be careful what they wish for. You don't win the Golden Glove if you're not a good goalkeeper.
"I know he's made mistakes and some of them at crucial times, but who doesn't do that? I don't think the goalkeepers that Man United want are anywhere near as good as De Gea, so they need to be careful what they wish for.
"Dean Henderson might be given a chance while De Gea is still there, but changing a keeper could come back to bite Man United. It's a bigger risk to bring in any of the goalkeepers Man United are looking at than to stick with De Gea.
"Outside of Thibaut Courtois and a couple of others, there are no proper world-class goalkeepers and even they can make mistakes."
According to The Telegraph, a move for Harry Kane is unlikely due to the uncertainty surrounding Manchester United's takeover. A nine-figure move for the Englishman isn't seen as a viable option given the price and Spurs’ unwillingness to sell him within the Premier League.
United are instead focused on snapping up Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund. They are currently preparing a £50m bid for the 20-year-old.
Manchester United will reportedly make a £50million bid for Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund. It is claimed that Erik ten Hag has decided upon the Denmark international as his top striker target.
The Red Devils are in desperate need of a new No 9 and the Telegraph now reports that Ten Hag has decided upon Hojlund as his preferred striker candidate.
Manchester United have improved their initial £38.6m bid for Andre Onana to £42.7m. The offer consists of a base fee of £38.5m and £4.2m in add-ons.
Inter Milan are said to want £51.3m but Fabrizio Romano claims the Italian giants would be willing to budge on £47m.
Excl: Manchester United have improved their bid for Andr\u00e9 Onana. It\u2019s now worth \u20ac50m add-ons included, around \u20ac45m plus \u20ac5m add-ons. \ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udd34\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\uddf2 #MUFC
Inter always asked for \u20ac60m package \u2014 but sources believe \u20ac55m could be the right number to make it happen.
On Wednesday, in a surprising development, Manchester United announced Mason Mount would wear the club’s iconic No 7 shirt.
Many had previously expected Alejandro Garnacho to be given that honour instead.
But the 19-year-old isn’t the only player to have been denied the privilege, with Jadon Sancho also suffering upon moving to Old Trafford two years ago.
The England international had expected to get the jersey in 2021, but Edinson Cavani refused to give it up.
Manchester United confirmed the arrival of Mason Mount on Wednesday, with the 24-year-old set to wear the iconic No 7 shirt at Old Trafford.
And the midfielder has now revealed he was a Portsmouth fan and watched Cristiano Ronaldo’s outstanding free-kick against his boyhood club way back in 2008.
Speaking to club media, Mount said: "I was probably around 10, I was there in the away end, supporting my team Pompey and was able to witness that special moment.
"I think that video of me taking the free-kick [for Chelsea’s academy] was after that day.
“It inspired me and seeing that moment at Old Trafford, in the away end, I was in awe of that situation and that iconic moment. I’d love to now replicate it."
Harry Kane has been strongly linked with a move to Manchester United this summer.
But Tottenham hero Gus Poyet can’t see the England international leaving Spurs, with Bayern Munich also interested.
“If I was Harry Kane I would stay in the Premier League rather than going to Bayern Munich,” he told 888sport.
“It will be a massive decision for Tottenham, for Harry, and for everyone involved, and of course, as the coach, Ange Postecoglou would like him to stay.
“There have been so many rumours and so many things happening over the past two or three years so I can’t say for sure what is going to happen. I think the only person who really knows is Harry Kane.”
According to The Guardian, Harry Maguire has received a boost to his pay packet along with other members of the United squad.
This is because the Red Devils qualified for the Champions League last season, finishing third in the Premier League table.
But while Maguire is open to leaving United, the increase in his wages makes it difficult to sell the 30-year-old.
It’s claimed the United skipper, who was made captain by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in January 2020, will ‘measure any prospective move against the potential loss of earnings’.
And Maguire will also have to consider whether leaving United, one of the biggest clubs in world football, will damage his chances of being an England regular further down the line.
David De Gea is currently a free agent after his contract at Manchester United expired.
And Louis Saha has slammed the Red Devils’ treatment of the 32-year-old.
“The David De Gea situation is tough because no-one deserves this, especially when you’ve been a long servant. But it’s complicated,” he told Paddy Power.
“The club want to move forwards and there’s a question to be answered over De Gea – a difficult one but it’s a fair question.
“The club is trying to develop the way they play, and the goalkeeper position is very important to Erik ten Hag in the way he plays. So, the treatment of De Gea is fair but it’s not an easy one.
“It’s similar to what we saw with Cristiano Ronaldo where they have a world class player but they’re making mistakes.
“Communication is a very important and whilst it’s great for the media, the uncertainty isn’t good for the player or the staff.”
Mason Greenwood had charges dropped against him in February, with the United striker now free to play football again.
Yet The Athletic say the Red Devils remain conflicted when it comes to the England international, who has scored 35 goals for the club so far throughout his career.
It’s claimed there is a ‘split in opinion’ over Greenwood between the ‘football side of operations and the commercial department’.
Club sponsors have apparently ‘conveyed their feelings about his employment’ to United staff.
Yet there are some with a sporting perspective who feel Greenwood should be given a chance to continue playing for the club.
According to Al Raya, it’s just a matter of time before Sheikh Jassim buys the club.
The United superfan has made five offers for the Red Devils so far.
And it’s claimed that while Sir Jim Ratcliffe remains a rival, confidence is growing in Sheikh Jassim’s inner circle that they’ll win the race instead.
It’s also been suggested an announcement could be made in the coming hours though, at this point, that appears unlikely.
Good morning and welcome to Express Sport's Manchester United takeover LIVE blog.
The Red Devils remain in a state of flux, with manager Erik ten Hag desperate for clarity as he seeks further reinforcements.
Sheikh Jassim is continuing to keep a low profile, with the Qatari billionaire yet to publicly speak out.
But Sir Jim Ratcliffe has now delivered an update as he looks to strike gold at the second time around - having missed out on purchasing Chelsea last year.
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