Man Utd takeover news as Glazers ‘change plan’, Jim Ratcliffe twist and new offers

Manchester United’s ownership situation remains in the air as the Glazers continue to search for incoming investment. It has been weeks since the Glazers first announced they were seeking fresh investment in the club, but while there has been speculation aplenty, we have heard very little of any concrete approach.

This is a process that will always take some time, especially if the Glazers prefer an outright sale, but with transfers and the stadium redevelopment seemingly on hold, fans will be eager to see progress sooner rather than later. Here we round up all the latest information on the potential takeover.

Glazers set deadline

United’s current owners, the Glazers, are said to have moved to speed up the process as their consultants meet with possible interested parties.

According to The Telegraph, the Glazers have now told potential buyers that they must formalise their interest by mid-February if they want to make a move to buy the club. Many parties have kept an eye on the situation at Old Trafford without holding talks over a purchase, and the move from the Glazers is to ensure they bring those potentially interested parties to the table.

It will be interesting to see if we do now see any bids or formal expressions of interest.

Jim Ratcliffe interest

Britain’s richest man, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has often been linked with taking over at Old Trafford, being a United fan. He has himself admitted that he has held discussions over buying United in the past, but he was told the club were not for sale.

According to the Telegraph report, Ratcliffe is one of those who has kept an eye from a distance during this sale process, and the Glazers do expect him to make a bid for the club, despite his spokespeople recently suggesting that he believes there is more value to be had in France’s Ligue 1, currently owning Nice.

Ratcliffe has a net worth of around £20billion, and it’s unlikely he would go for an outright purchase on his own, given he would need to invest at least a quarter of his net worth, with United expected to go for more than £5billion.

Interest elsewhere

According to the same report, United are braced for offers from a number of parties.

In particular, offers are expected to arrive from the Middle East, Asia and the US. Amid the new deadlines, investors are expected to go public with their approaches in the coming weeks, and formal discussions with United should start to take place. It’s reported that there could be a deal struck by the end of the season, and the price could fluctuate depending on United’s Champions League qualification for next season.

Despite all that, it’s still unclear whether the Glazers want a full sale, but they will assess the potential offers before making their decision.