The proposed takeover of Manchester United could roll on into the Autumn before a final decision is reached, according to reports
The Red Devils are believed to be assessing official takeover bids from both INEOS chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani from Qatar. But according to the Mail, both parties hold fears that current owners the Glazer family will not ultimately sell the club because their £6bn valuation has not yet been met.
Both British billionaire Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim are believed to have tabled offers of around £5bn, with United unable to get either party to raise their offers higher.
But the same report has indicated that the Glazers may choose to hold onto the club until there is more demand, particularly now that the Manchester outfit has returned to the Champions League.
In a somewhat contrasting version of events, however, Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano told GIVEMESPORT that the sale process is continuing behind the scenes and that a critical moment in the takeover is upon us.
Meanwhile, CBS Sport are claming there is a “mixed narrative” over the apparent lack of progress with the buyers and sellers pointing the finger at each other for the impasse.
Suggesting that the delays are “group triggered”, CBS Sport’s Jacobs believes that the Glazers are still waiting for “more information” before being “ready to sign”
Once that point has been reached, both bidding parties will be asked to get “six feet from the finishing line” and be ready to undertake the completion progress before one of the bidders is given the green light to proceed.
It was also suggested that sources close to the selling side have implied that delays are due to the groups not being as ready to push forward as they have suggested. The implication is that this means that nothing is paused and stages are continuing to “tick along behind the scenes”.
However, with the Glazers still refusing to reveal a preferred bidder even at this late stage, the situation does not appear to be any clearer for either party and the longer that remains the case, the more likely it becomes that the takeover will not be completed until the Autumn at the earliest.
That will have a direct impact on United’s summer transfer window. With no guarantee of funds from either potential buyer, until a deal is done, Erik ten Hag will have to forge ahead with the transfer funds he currently has at his disposal.
