Sheikh Jassim makes improved bid for Man United
Qatari investor Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani has tabled an improved offer to buy Manchester United.
Sheikh Jassim is widely regarded as one of the frontrunners along with Ineos owner and British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe to purchase the Red Devils from the Glazer family.
This comes after the Glazer family announced in November that they are planning to explore “strategic alternatives” that could lead to a possible sale of the club.
Both Sheikh Jassim and Ratcliffe entered the third round of the bidding process at the end of April, with New York-based investment bank Raine Group tasked with overseeing the club’s potential sale.
Sheikh Jassim is keen to purchase 100% of Man United and intends to wipe all of their debt as well as pledge an additional £800m to significantly improve the club’s infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Ratcliffe, a lifelong Man United supporters, is open to keeping both Joel Glazer and Avram Glazer on board as part of his bid to buy a majority share of the club.
A recent report claims that Ratcliffe is close to completing a takeover of the Red Devils after submitting an improved offer that could rise to match the Glazers’ £6bn asking price.
However, multiple reports now claim that Sheikh Jassim has made an improved bid to purchase Man United, with Sky Sports News reporting that the latest offer close to £5bn was submitted to the Raine Group on Tuesday morning.
The report adds that Sheikh Jassim is confident that his revised offer is a ‘very competitive one’ that he believes would hugely benefit the club going forward both on and off the pitch.
Meanwhile, The Mail claims that Sheikh Jassim’s latest bid is a ‘take it or leave it’ offer, with the Qatari investor making one final push to win the race to purchase the 20-time English top-flight champions.
Although it was initially thought that a preferred bidder for Man United would be chosen at some stage last week, an announcement on the club’s proposed sale is expected to be made prior to the summer transfer window opening in less than a months’ time.
Erik ten Hag is hoping to steer his side in the top four of the Premier League, with securing Champions League football for next season enabling them to target a larger pool of players.
A new centre-forward is believed to be one of Ten Hag’s primary targets ahead of the new campaign, with the likes or Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane and Napoli’s Victor Osimhen believed to be on the Red Devils’ radar, while a recent report claims that West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice is also high on Ten Hag’s wishlist.
