Erik ten Hag admits he is ‘following’ latest Man Utd takeover news as Qatar bid expected

Erik ten Hag has admitted he and his Manchester United players are keeping up to date on the latest news surrounding the club’s takeover.

Friday marks the unofficial deadline for interested parties to submit bids for the club, with reports claiming a huge offer is expected from a Qatar consortium. Sir Jim Ratcliffe is the only person to publicly declare his interest in buying the Red Devils, while it’s been reported that groups from Saudi Arabia and the US are still in the running to buy the 20-time English champions.

Amid all the off-the-field talk, it’s a hugely busy period for United in terms of matches, with the Red Devils drawing 2-2 against Barcelona on Thursday night in the first leg of their Europa League play-off. Ten Hag’s side face a reverse meeting with the Catalan club next week, before the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United is followed by an FA Cup fifth-round meeting with West Ham United.

Before that, it’s Leicester City in the Premier League, and Ten Hag was asked ahead of the game if he and his players have been keeping up to date on the latest reports of a takeover.

“We are following it, it is our club,” he replied. “Of course, we are committed and we are focusing on football; training and our way of playing games, that is what we are focusing on.

“We are really enjoying it at the moment, the togetherness and it’s enjoyable to work. Others in the club will have to take decisions, make efforts in that process, but it is not up to us.”

The United boss was also quizzed on whether he has heard from the Glazers or CEO Richard Arnold recently in regards to a sale. “No,” he said. “At the start they informed me how the process will go and how we make out. I focus on football and they are focusing on other departments of the club, how to get everything financed.”

United head into the Leicester game just five points behind leaders Manchester City, with the Red Devils dropping points in the league only three times since club football resumed after the World Cup. While Ten Hag failed to be drawn on whether United are involved in a title race, he seemed to imply that they might be if the team can continue their impressive form over the next six weeks.

“We don’t think about [it]. What we have to do is to put us in April in the right position,” claimed the former Ajax boss. “Our thinking can only be on the next games. Always we have to be better than the previous game and think about game to game.”