Man Utd takeover: Glazers ‘delay’ amid Sheikh Jassim ‘concern’ as Casemiro sends message to new owners

Manchester United owners the Glazer family are weighing up the prospect of delaying a decision over a potential takeover of the club until after the end of the season, ESPN have reported.

Last week, Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al Thani made a fourth ‘take it or leave it offer’ for the club after reports INEOS chief executive Sir Jim Ratcliffe was the preferred bidder.

The Glazers announced in November they were seeking a potential sale or outside investment in the club. The report by ESPN adds that a decision was originally due before the season finished but this now appears unlikely.

Ratcliffe’s bid is said to value Man United higher as he has made an offer for a majority stake while the Qatari offer is for 100 per cent of the club and reported to stand at a staggering £5.5bn.

It was Sheikh Jassim’s fourth bid for the club after it emerged he had ‘cooled’ discussions with the Glazers earlier in the takeover process amid concerns over the asking price for the club.

El Pais claim Sheikh Jassim was ‘stunned’ when the Glazers demanded £6bn for the club, after initially indicating an offer of around £5.2bn would be enough to complete a takeover.

However, the Qatari banker is firmly back at the negotiating table and appears keen to be involved in a Premier League club, with suggestions he could look to purchase either West Ham or Tottenham.

Meanwhile, Man United midfielder Casemiro has urged any potential new owner to give Erik ten Hag plenty of time at the club.

The ex-Real Madrid star scored the only goal as the Red Devils won 1-0 at Bournemouth to move within a point of the Champions League.

Liverpool’s controversial 1-1 draw at home to Aston Villa means Man United need just one point from their final two league games, at home to Chelsea on Thursday before hosting Fulham on Sunday.

Casemiro arrived at Old Trafford last summer and has proved a key addition with the Red Devils winning the Carabao Cup in Ten Hag’s first season.

And whoever owns the club come the end of the summer, Casemiro wants them to afford Ten Hag with plenty of time to turn the club into title challengers.

“He has surprised me a lot with his ambition,” said the former Real Madrid star.

“We have been talking among us, and we have been saying that he is a little bit heavy because he always likes to win. He is asking for more because for him 100 per cent is not enough. We have to give more than 100 per cent.

“He works a lot and is very ambitious. He has the ambition to change the whole club. He is a manager who has the respect from all the players and the fans as well.

“But I think we need to give him time because despite the fact we have already won one title and are quite close to the Champions League, we need more time to grow up. But we can see he is changing a lot of things within the club. He is always showing ambition to win.”