Manchester United might turn out to be the most costly sports activities staff on this planet, after a Qatari businessman entered a record-breaking provide because the bidding window slammed closed.
Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad, who chairs the Qatar Islamic Bank, submitted his closing provide for the membership on Friday, Sky News understands, with the determine supplied regarded as round £5bn.
The Qatari is claimed to be in search of 100% possession.
Sheikh Jassim’s provide would make United the most costly sports activities staff in historical past by at the least £200m, eclipsing the £4.8bn ongoing deal to purchase NFL facet Washington Commanders, however nonetheless falls quick of the Glazers’ personal valuation of the membership at round £6bn.
It would come with a assure of a separate pot of funding to strengthen Erik Ten Hag’s facet, in addition to growing the infrastructure across the membership by way of each the Old Trafford stadium and coaching floor, in addition to the native space.
INEOS proprietor Jim Ratcliffe has additionally submitted his closing bid for the membership, with Sky Sports News saying the deal would solely get him round 50% of the membership’s shares, which might go away the present homeowners Avram and Joel Glazer with a mixed 40% of management.
Leaving the Glazer household with any management of the membership would seemingly anger fan teams, who’ve for a while wished to completely lower ties with the outgoing homeowners.
The Florida-based Elliott funding fund’s deliberate bid for a minority stake within the membership has but to be confirmed, together with every other excellent provides made late within the day.
The closing spherical of bidding strikes the membership a step nearer to ending the five-month saga because the Glazers first introduced they have been contemplating promoting United in November 2022.
“People close to the Sheikh have been telling me they’re convinced this is the best bid,” defined chief Sky Sports News reporter Kaveh Solhekol.
“They suppose there’s not one which comes near this. It’s for 100% of the membership, it is debt free, and cash might be made out there not simply to Erik Ten Hag, but additionally for bettering the infrastructure across the membership; doing the form of factor Man City have completed in Manchester.
Read extra on the Man United takeover:
Who are contenders to purchase Man Utd?
Manchester United sale: Eight bids might be made as Wednesday deadline looms
Over the approaching days the Glazer household and Raine Group, who helped to finish Chelsea’s sale to American billionaire Todd Boehly final yr, are anticipated to contemplate the bids on the desk and which, if any, to just accept.
United followers have been at odds with the Glazers way back to 2005, once they bought the membership and plunged it into debt.
A protest is deliberate by a fan group generally known as the 1958 at Sunday’s sport in opposition to Aston Villa, the place supporters will march by means of Manchester and boycott 18 minutes of the sport.
“We boycott the game for 18 minutes,” the 1958 mentioned. “One minute for each year the Glazers have driven our club into the ground.”
Source: information.sky.com”
