Man Utd takeover: New owners to ‘pick up’ Glazers’ £515m debt with potential $10bn price tag

Manchester United’s new owners may be forced to cover the costs of the club’s £515m debt, according to recent reports.

Speculation surrounding United’s takeover has gone quiet in recent weeks, with the end of the transfer market and Carabao Cup semi-finals dominating the news agenda, but reports are likely to increase as spring approaches.

A decision on the club’s potential takeover has always been earmarked for the final months of the 2022/23 campaign, although ManchesterWorld understand the Glazers might hold out until the end of the season as the club’s price will rise if they can secure Champions League football.

Meanwhile, the Mirror claim the Glazers plan to leave behind the debt they have foisted upon the club. The unpopular American owners saddled United with a £550m debt as part of their leveraged buyout in 2005 and have cleared just £35m of that figure.

The Mirror add the Glazers will ‘walk away from the financial mess’ while the cost of buying the club, settling the outstanding debt and revamping Old Trafford could set a new owner back by around £8bn.

Elsewhere, ESPN claim the Glazers may be reconsidering their options with a belief United could enjoy an extended period of success under Erik ten Hag. Should the club continue to impress on the field, in a revamped stadium, there is a feeling United could be valued around $10bn.

There is also a suggestion a new stadium or a regeneration of Old Trafford could be ‘paid for by accepting an equity investment’. However, ESPN add a full sale remains most likely with the other Glazer family members encouraging Joel and Avram Glazer to sell.

Meanwhile, a report in the Telegraph states CEO Richard Arnold was ‘influential’ in the Glazers’ recent decision to not take the latest dividends payment from the club. The owners felt it was ‘hard to justify’ given a £26.5m loss was announced during the last financial quarterly results.