Man Utd's five worst decisions since Erik ten Hag took over
Manchester United remain in a state of limbo when it comes to their ongoing takeover process, which has rumbled on for almost a year without a conclusion. Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and Sir Jim Ratcliffe are still in the running to purchase the club, with the Glazers yet to firmly indicate their preferred buyer.
Sheikh Jassim has been fronting a Qatari proposal to lead a full-scale takeover, which would see the Glazers end their lengthy association with United to the delight of supporters. However, it has been reported that Ratcliffe is edging ahead with his plan to buy a 25 per cent minority stake in the Red Devils.
Such a deal would allow the Glazers to keep control but would need to be pitched at an acceptable value, with the American family reportedly seeking around £6billion in exchange for the entire club. This would suggest that Ratcliffe might be able to get a deal done with a new offer in the region of £1.5bn.
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Express Sport is on hand to keep you updated with the latest Man Utd takeover news (Image: GETTY)
Richard Arnold provided a brief update on the Manchester United takeover during a Fan Forum this week.
The United chief executive confirmed that the process is still on the right track as Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe look to strike a deal with the Glazers.
He said: "All I can say at this moment is the work is ongoing."
The Glazers were leaning towards Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani before Sir Jim Ratcliffe's minority Man Utd takeover bid, according to reports.
The Athletic reporter David Ornstein, on Thursday, revealed that he had previously been told Sheikh Jassim was in the driving seat.
But now he claims the noise is around Sir Jim and INEOS taking the lead...
He said: "We’re getting question after question on this. I’m assured there has been movement and, contrary to reports that it going the way of Sheikh Jassim, I keep hearing that INEOS taking a minority stake and building from there remains more likely.
“That said, I was previously being told it’s going to Sheikh Jassim! This shows either the momentum keeps swinging or that none of us really know. Perhaps even the Glazers don’t know.”
United are weighing up the idea of a move for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi next summer in what could be the first transfer deal under their new regime.
That's according to South London Press, who are reporting that Guehi is on Erik ten Hag's list of targets at the back.
The Red Devils are thought to be keen on revamping their defensive line ahead of next season and have been linked with several other targets alongside Guehi as of late.
Marc Guehi could reportedly be targeted by the Red Devils next summer (Image: GETTY)
Jon Smith, one of the world's first football agents, has suggested that Sheikh Jassim could be forced into paying significantly over the odds to beat Sir Jim Ratcliffe in the race to buy United.
He told CaughtOffside: "It would appear vaguely intelligent for the Glazers to have looked again at the Gulf and said there’s a bigger game here and we don’t want to sell ourselves short.
"They’ve got arguably the biggest entity on planet football and if the Qataris are going to pay £5bn, maybe they’ll pay £10bn. Maybe it’s just a number and they’ll settle on seven.
"These deals are notoriously complicated and this is the biggest one of them all. I’m just of the belief that it’s a very heavy negotiation and it’s ultimately all about the money, obviously, but also about the timing."
David Beckham has played down reports that he could be involved in any Qatari takeover of the Red Devils in spite of his association with the Gulf state.
He told CNBC: "At the moment there has been no discussion.
"I have had a long-standing relationship with Qatar because of my involvement with PSG. Obviously there will be some connection and people put two and two together.
"There will be a takeover, it is the right time. We all have our opinions on who should take over, but in my opinion it is about who cares about the club the most and will take the club back to where it should be."
The Glazer family are fully aware that United fans want them gone but will not be swayed into bowing to their demands.
That's according to the Manchester Evening News, who are reporting that the Glazers are still mulling over whether to sell the club or stay in control.
They are said to be expecting United's value to skyrocket over the next few years and could hold out in order to maximise their profits in future.
The Glazers are reportedly aware that United fans want them to leave (Image: GETTY)
Reports in Qatar over the last few days have claimed that Sheikh Jassim is 'very close' to wrapping up a full-scale takeover at Old Trafford.
He has submitted a number of huge bids over the last 10 months, with the latest believed to be in the region of £5bn along with an extra billion to help fund the club's infrastructure.
However, other reports continue to suggest that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is the frontrunner after swaying the Glazers with his plan to buy a minority stake.
The United board will meet over the next few days to discuss the latest developments regarding Sir Jim Ratcliffe's bid, according to Bloomberg.
The same report claims that Ratcliffe has edged ahead of Sheikh Jassim in the race, with the Glazers keen on his plan to buy a minority stake in the club.
However, it is also said that a new Qatari bid cannot be ruled out at this stage, which suggests that a late twist could swing proceedings in Sheikh Jassim's favour.
United chiefs will reportedly hold a takeover meeting in the next few days (Image: GETTY)
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