Qatar-based investors ‘preparing to launch bid for Manchester United’
Qatari-based investors are reportedly preparing to bid for Manchester United ‘within days’, with the group determined to purchase the club from the Glazer family.
In the latter stages of last year, the Glazers released a statement confirming that they were open to selling the 20-time English champions.
“Manchester United plc, one of the most successful and historic sports clubs in the world, announces today that the company’s board of directors (the “board”) is commencing a process to explore strategic alternatives for the club,” read a statement from the Glazers on Man United’s official website.
“The process is designed to enhance the club’s future growth, with the ultimate goal of positioning the club to capitalize on opportunities both on the pitch and commercially.
“As part of this process, the board will consider all strategic alternatives, including new investment into the club, a sale, or other transactions involving the company.
“This will include an assessment of several initiatives to strengthen the club, including stadium and infrastructure redevelopment, and expansion of the club’s commercial operations on a global scale, each in the context of enhancing the long-term success of the club’s men’s, women’s and academy teams, and bringing benefits to fans and other stakeholders.”
There has been a host of speculation surrounding the ownership of the club in recent months, with the Glazers thought to be looking for around £6bn to sell.
According to the Daily Mail, Qatari investors are planning a big-money move for the Red Devils and are confident that their offer ‘will blow the competition out of the water’.
The report claims that the group are prepared to hand head coach Erik ten Hag a substantial transfer budget in a bid to help the club return to the top of the English and European game.
The Qatar-based investors are allegedly set to launch their offer ‘in the coming days’, and they would also be prepared to oversee the redevelopment of Old Trafford.
“There are significant funds available. These people are serious. They want to make sure that United are where they should be and they are confident theirs will be the strongest bid,” the newspaper quotes an insider as saying.
“They want to strengthen the squad to put them back at the top but they also want this to be for the good of the community.
“They also want to build on the success of the World Cup. They recognise that Manchester United is the biggest football club in the world, the crown jewels, and there is a steely-minded determination to buy it and get it to where it should be.”
Man United are still competing in four competitions this season, with the club preparing to take on Newcastle United in the final of the EFL Cup later this month.
The Red Devils are third in the Premier League table, while they are also chasing silverware in both the Europa League and FA Cup.
