Man Utd takeover news: ‘Concerns’ grow over Glazer plans with initial deadline set to be missed

There are concerns that Manchester United’s protracted takeover process may not be sorted before the summer, according to reports.

It was initially hoped a decision would be reached by March or April, but the Daily Mail now claim that a new owner might not be in charge in time to lead the club’s transfer strategy ahead of the 2023/24 season.

The deadline for potential buyers to submit a second offer for the club was 23 March, with Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Scandinavian businessman Thomas Zilliacus all making bids to the Raine Group - the US bank overseeing a sale of the club.

The Mail add that interested parties are beginning to grow frustrated with the process, with some feeling it’s a deliberate tactic being used by the Glazers to drive up the price. “At this stage they can enter into exclusivity with one group or call for a third round of bidding,” the Mail state.

Meanwhile, The Athletic report that the set used last month to hold talks with Sheikh Jassim and Ratcliffe at Carrington is still in place over three weeks after the initial meetings were held. It’s been suggested that this could be used to hold future talks with bidders at the club’s training ground.

While this goes on, United host Sevilla in the quarter-finals of the Europa League on Thursday - the fourth Spanish side who will have played at Old Trafford in the competition this season. The second leg will be staged in Seville next week, with a clash against Nottingham Forest sandwiched in between.