Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe are still awaiting a decision from the Glazer family on which bid they want to take forward in the race to buy Manchester United
The wait goes on for Sheikh Jassim, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the other minority bidders and Manchester United fans.
The Glazer family, who announced in November their plan to “explore strategic alternatives” for United, are still deliberating over their next steps. The third and final deadline passed on Friday, April 28, and it was expected to take around 10 days for a preferred bidder to be announced.
That has not yet happened and it has been a long and frustrating process for United fans, who are desperate to see the back of the American billionaires, who have owned the club since a debt-leveraged buyout in 2005.
Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani has made some eye-catching promises to try and win over fans. He wants to buy 100 per cent of the club and is reportedly willing to bring in ex-players like Gary Neville and Paul Scholes.
Meanwhile, British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe is playing a different game. He wants 69 per cent of the club and is reportedly willing to allow Joel and Avram Glazer to stay involved in the running of the club.
Will either of the frontrunners even be successful? Do the Glazers actually want to sell United? The United owners could decide to sell a minority stake to one of the interested parties instead.
It is now 170 days since the Glazers announced their intentions to seek “strategic alternatives” for Manchester United.
It has been 13 days since the third deadline for bids on Friday, April 28.
As we’ve reported below, Sheikh Jassim is keen to get legendary ex-Manchester United players involved if his bid is successful.
That could mean roles for the likes of Gary Neville and Paul Scholes – but it is unlikely to mean a triumphant return for Eric Cantona.
Cantona boycotted the Qatar World Cup over the Middle Eastern country’s poor human rights record, so is unlikely to be Sheikh Jassim’s first port of call.
Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani wants to bring several club legends back to Manchester United if his takeover bid is successful. In particular, the Qatari banker wants to welcome back iconic players from Sir Alex Ferguson’s era (between 1986 and 2013).
That includes Class of ’92 members Gary Neville and Paul Scholes, as well as stars from the 2008 Champions League-winning team. Sheikh Jassim’s main rival in the takeover process is INEOS chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe, with both bidders waiting to hear back after submitting their final offers on April 28.
There is a feeling current unpopular owners the Glazers will remain in place after the saga ends.
And welcome back for another day of Manchester United takeover news.
Could this finally be the day?!
That’s it from tonight’s coverage of Manchester United.
There has been plenty of transfer rumours and tune in tomorrow for more.
Manchester United are interested in signing Diogo Costa this summer, with the Porto goalkeeper valued at around £70m according to reports.
United are keen to sign a new goalkeeper whether or not David de Gea remains at Old Trafford, with Dean Henderson likely to depart and Jack Butland set to return to Crystal Palace following a January loan switch.
Manchester United are gearing up for a busy summer transfer window as Erik ten Hag aims to build on his first season at Old Trafford by adding some extra firepower.
The Dutchman has ended the Red Devils’ long wait for silverware by lifting the Carabao Cup against Newcastle, while Man City stand between the Red Devils and the FA Cup, with the final on June 10. But suddenly, a Champions League place doesn’t look so certain following the defeat to West Ham on Sunday.
United lie just a point above Liverpool, albeit with a game in hand. And the volume of Ten Hag’s summer spending could depend on a top four place, not to mention the ongoing takeover battle between Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim.
Mirror Football takes a look at how United could potentially line up come the first day of next season.
Ajax defender Jurrien Timber has revealed he could be on the move this summer, amid interest from Manchester United and Liverpool.
United boss Erik ten Hag previously managed Timber at Ajax and attempted to sign him last summer as well. And the 21-year-old has admitted he is “going to take a look” at his options.
“For me it is the same situation as last season. If I say: I’m leaving, it has to fit,” he told Ziggy Sport as per Voetbal Primeur. “Playing style is important, playing minutes… Participating in the prizes is also important. My favorite country? I dare not say that.
“That’s why I’m doing the same as last season. The chance is there, it can happen, but I’m also good here. I’m still young and everything suits me here. I’m going to take a look.”
Manchester United starlet Hannibal Mejbri has hinted he could rejoin Championship side Birmingham on loan again next season.
The 20-year-old, who was signed from Monaco in 2019, enjoyed his first real taste of first-team football at Birmingham as he made 41 appearances in all competitions for the Blues. And he has refused to rule out returning to St Andrews next season, telling BirminghamLive: “First, the Championship is very hard, so I’m going to have a good holiday.
“After that I will think about next season and get ready for my pre-season with Man United. We will see at the end of the pre-season [about rejoining Birmingham]. Why not? You never know.”
West Ham forward Michail Antonio has admitted he ‘feels bad’ for Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea after he made a costly error the Red Devils’ 1-0 defeat last weekend.
While discussing the Hammers’ win on his Footballer’s Football Podcast, Antonio said: “I can’t slate the man. I don’t really want to slate the man, but De Gea has got to do better. I don’t understand, he’s such a good keeper but he just has these moments.
“I feel so bad for the guy because he was up there with one of the best keepers in the world. But even though he is up there, he still has these crazy moments. That goal was so slow, when I saw the shot I thought ‘oh, he’s just going to collect this’.”
Gary Neville has warned Manchester United that Liverpool will “smell a little bit of blood” after Erik ten Hag’s side suffered consecutive defeats to Brighton and West Ham.
United currently sit fourth in the Premier League and are hoping to qualify for next season’s Champions League. However, those two losses mean United are now just one point above Liverpool, albeit with a game in hand.
“I think Liverpool will smell a little bit of blood,” Neville told Sky Sports. “They’ll try to ramp it up a little bit, Jurgen Klopp I’m sure will be thinking and his players will be thinking going into training tomorrow ‘come on we’ve got a chance here.’
“They’ll want to hunt down and make it interesting. There’s a job to do for Manchester United and Newcastle but they should have enough in the tank to be able to get over the line.”
Roma are ready to sell Tammy Abraham for £40m this summer – and believe he will return to the Premier League. Former Chelsea striker Abraham enjoyed a brilliant first season in Italy but it has not gone so well this time and Roma will be open to offers.
Chelsea do have a buy-back option on the England international but a return seems unlikely with their bulging squad numbers. However, Roma expect any buyer to come from the Premier League because of the price tag and also his contract would make it hard for him to move to another Italian club.
Italian media has linked him with Aston Villa but, judging by Ollie Watkins’ form and how he has benefitted from being the main man, that would seem unlikely. Reports also suggested he was also scouted by Manchester United last month as they look to add a new striker this summer.
Bayern Munich chief Oliver Kahn has hinted that they are not in the running to sign Manchester United target Victor Osimhen this summer.
Both clubs are in the market for a new striker and have been heavily linked with a move for the Napoli star. However, amid reports the Serie A champions will demand a fee of around £120m for Osimhen, Kahn appears to have ruled Bayern out of the race to sign him.
“When it’s about such a fee, we have to ask the question: does the player give you a guarantee for this money?” he told BILD “That would definitely be a big risk.”
David Moyes says reaching a European final with West Ham would be his finest achievement in almost 1,100 games as a manager.
In a previous incarnation, the Irons boss led Everton to a top-four finish in 2005 and the FA Cup final four years later, but he would rank a silver lining in Europe as his finest hour, saying: “To get to a European final, it could be my best one (achievement). I’ve reached a Champions League quarter-final with Manchester United, lost on penalties in the quarter-final of the Europa League with Everton, and last year we reached a semi-final here at West Ham.
“I want to try and take it a couple of steps further, and I would refer back to the serial winner Jose Mourinho, who found winning this trophy so special for him and his football club (Roma). Sir Alex Ferguson always used to say this was the time of year where you had to be at your best because it tends to be that games are really important semi-finals, finals or league games you have to win.”
Manchester United are among the clubs that have been linked with a move for AC Milan forward Rafael Leao this summer.
However, according to the Athletic, Leao has signed a new five-year contract with Milan. The 23-year-old is Milan’s joint topscorer this season and his new deal will run until June 2028.
Ex-Manchester United goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler is in line to become one of Jorg Schmadtke’s first signings as Liverpool sporting director.
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German transfer chief Schmadtke remains in advanced talks with the Anfield hierarchy over replacing the outgoing Julian Ward, who’ll depart at the end of this season to join Dutch giants Ajax, Mirror Football understands. While we await official confirmation of Schmadtke’s appointment, the current Wolfsburg bigwig is already making plans ahead of the summer transfer window.
First on the agenda is to sign 34-year-old Zieler, who came through the ranks at Man United before joining Hannover in 2010, where Schmadtke was working as the club’s sporting director. That means that the six times-capped Germany international is classed a homegrown player under Premier League rules, solving a looming problem for manager Jurgen Klopp.
Sheikh Jassim would try to install some of Manchester United’s greatest players in positions within the club if his bid was successful, according to ESPN.
The Qatari banker believes the lack of involvement from legends from the 1999 Treble-winning squad, and the 2008 Champions League-winning side is a major problem that needs resolving.
The report states that he has already contacted prominent ex-players, like Gary Neville and Paul Scholes, to run the idea past them. Technical director Darren Fletcher is currently the only ex-player in the backroom set-up.