Manchester United’s takeover process is now in its seventh month and rumors have suggested why the sale is taking so long.
A report claims that the Glazers are taking time to make important decisions, but that everyone is on the same page about selling at the right price.
The hold-up appears to be the amount offered by leading bidders Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, rather than Glazer’s reluctance to sell.
Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and Sir Jim Ratcliffe have jockeyed for a position over the past few months as United’s current ownership consider their offers. Reports on Monday appeared to indicate that Sheikh Jassim was currently the leading bidder.
The Guardian claimed both publicly and privately that the Qatari banker had “slipped ahead” of his INEOS rival in the race to buy the club.
Keep an eye out for the latest updates and rumors on the Manchester United takeover in our live blog below.
11:47Isaac Johnson
New defender ‘depends on takeover result’
United’s ability to sign a new defender will depend on how the takeover ends.
It is according to The telegraphwhich says the same applies to other areas of the squad apart from centre-forward, goalkeeper and midfield.
More departures than arrivals are expected this summer with departures funding extra transfer activity outside of Erik ten Hag’s main target.
11:24Isaac Johnson
Gary Neville blasts ’embarrassing’ Glazers amid takeover
Appearing on BBC 5Live, Neville said:
[The Glazers are] Embarrassing. But that’s what they’ve done, drag everything out, it’s always in their best interest.
Fans not being updated by owners at the estate sale is not good enough, but it fits with how they have operated for 20 years now.
10:44 amIsaac Johnson
Berbatov: Glazer’s risk disclosure Erik ten Hag
Talking to Sky Betsaid former United striker Dimitar Berbatov:
“The takeover has to happen soon because then you have the security and the funds to buy the players you need.
“Now is the time for Manchester United to go and challenge, and if the takeover affects Erik ten Hag’s summer transfer plans, then of course he will be angry as the club needs to be powerful in the transfer market to compete with Manchester City.
“Hopefully the takeover can happen soon so Erik can get the funds to buy the players he needs.”
10:16 a.mKey event
Takeover delay “explained”
A source who claims to be close to the Glazer family says he expected the takeover process at United to drag on because “Joel takes forever on every decision he makes. [and] it’s a huge decision.”
Joel Glazer is believed to own 19 percent of the voting rights, making him the owner with the largest stake in United.
Talking to Financial Timessaid the contact, “Glazers are very slow decision makers who are deliberate in how they think about things.”
All the Glazers who have invested in United are willing to sell their shares at the right price, the report adds.
It is suggested that the hold-up is due to the sum offered by Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, rather than Glazer’s reluctance to sell.
09:56Isaac Johnson
Sheikh Jassim, ‘sports wash’ and United influence amid takeover ambitions
Manchester United could be used as an exercise in sports laundering if Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani were to take over the club, according to a leading academic expert.
Throughout the takeover process, Sheikh Jassim has vehemently denied links to the Qatari government and has made efforts to distance himself from any similarities between his bid and PSG’s ownership.
The Parisians are owned by the Qatar Sports Investment group, which is overseen by the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
09:18Isaac Johnson
Sheikh Jassim’s only previous football role suggests how he can manage United
Potential Manchester United owner Sheikh Jassim had a brief spell as president of a Qatari club in the early 2000s.
Sheikh Jassim is the front-runner to take over the Old Trafford outfit and launched a fifth bid for the club last month, understood to mean 100 per cent ownership.
Failsworth-born Sir Jim Ratcliffe, owner of Ineos, continues to run and has also made several bids, although it is understood his latest bid is for majority ownership, potentially allowing the Glazer family to stay on in some capacity.
Read more here >>>
08:49Isaac Johnson
How did Sheikh Jassim make his money?
Sheikh Jassim is a banker and is the chairman of Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB). One of the largest banks in the Middle East, the bank’s revenues are believed to reach 1.7 billion.
He is also a member of the Qatari royal family, but has vehemently denied that his bid is funded by the country.
Previously, Sheikh Jassim was also a board member of Credit Suisse. Despite his role in QIB, his net worth is not clear.
Read along here >>>
08:22Isaac Johnson
Sheikh Jassim ‘could leave the role to Solskjær’
Sheikh Jassim could bring Ole Gunnar Solskjær back to United in some capacity, according to a report.
The Norwegian was sacked as manager in November 2021, but remains a very popular figure around Old Trafford.
Now, the mirror claim that Solskjaer could be one of the club legends brought in by Sheikh Jassim to fill a number of roles.
07:59Isaac Johnson
Delayed takeover causes Erik ten Hag to shudder at Rice’s frustration
Erik ten Hag has apparently become very annoyed that a potential pursuit of Declan Rice has been prevented by the takeover delay.
The sun claims the lack of clarity over ownership and thus what budget he wants this summer means United risk missing out on the targets Ten Hag wants.
This – it says – includes Rice, but West Ham’s eagerness to land around £100m has all but ruled United out of the running because of the ambiguity over how much it would take out of United’s summer purse.
07:38Isaac Johnson
Sheikh Jassim is ‘stepping ahead’ in the takeover race
It has been put forward by the guardian that Sheikh Jassim is now ahead of Sir Jim Ratcliffe in the United takeover race following his fifth bid earlier this month.
It claims both sides were in extended talks last week and are now awaiting a decision, with no one behind the scenes sure how the process will end.
Each revised bid from both Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe improved in price and quality, but Raine Group – the US banker overseeing the takeover – appears to have continued to up the ante with the Glazers after around £6bn. £.
Both current bids are believed to be close to that figure.
Jack Flintham
REPORT – Sheikh Jassim threatened to ‘walk away’
According to the Financial Times, the Qatari national had become frustrated with the lengthy process earlier this month.
After being asked to make several bids, the paper claims he threatened to walk away.
However, he is still committed to buying the Reds.
Jack Flintham
Good morning
Hello and welcome to our takeover blog this Tuesday.
Be sure to stay here to stay up to date with all the latest news and rumors about the sale.