Man Utd 'takeover plans' in place as Sheikh Jassim can trigger Sir Jim Ratcliffe exit

Manchester United's owners, the Glazer family, will soon obtain the power to activate their drag-along rights if fresh full takeover interest emerges from a third party. It opens the door for Sheikh Jassim to put his money where his mouth is and compel Sir Jim Ratcliffe to sell his shares, unless the INEOS kingpin can match an offer.

Reports in December claimed that the Qatari bidder still has plans in place to pursue a full takeover of United down the line. An advisor told the Daily Mail: "Sheikh Jassim is still a rich guy. He is still a United fan. He is not going to rush off and try another Premier League club. If the opportunity to buy the whole of Manchester United arose again at some point in the future, it is hard to see there not being a big level of interest. The plans are still there."

Sheikh Jassim was thought to have made a £4.79billion offer to buy out the Glazers through the Nine Two Foundation.

However, the American family opted to partner up with Sir Jim, whose bid was worth £1.25bn for a 28.9 per cent stake, valuing United at over £5bn.

Last year, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings claimed that Sheikh Jassim failed to provide sufficient proof of funds before withdrawing from the process.

In his first press conference after becoming a part-owner, Sir Jim played along with jibes about the Qatari's elusiveness throughout the takeover battle.

The British billionaire laughed: "Nobody's ever seen him, actually. The Glazers never met him... I'm not sure he exists!"

The Daily Mail added that Sheikh Jassim had a three-day plan to fix United, had he emerged victorious against Sir Jim.

It involved removing all the debt loading onto the club by the Glazers, taking the Red Devils off the New York Stock Exchange and announcing fully-funded plans for a new stadium.

Those claims must be taken with a pinch of salt, though, given the uncertainty about the authenticity of Sheikh Jassim's interest following the SEC filings.

He can remove the doubt by returning to the table for United in three months' time, when the Glazers' drag-along rights take effect.

If Sir Jim sells his shares as part of a deal within the following 18 months, he would make all his money back from the turbulent investment.

Beyond that point, he would have to accept whatever price the Glazers are willing to agree on with a third-party bidder.

But while the United owners' plans are anyone's guess, it is unlikely they will surrender their control over the club in the near future.