The Premier League ‘red flag’ that could cause major Man Utd takeover headache

Manchester United could be sold to Dubai, according to recent reports, but there is a problem. The Red Devils could now be sold following confirmation from current owners, the Glazers, that they are now assessing investment options.

That could mean the Glazers sell some of their shares or it could mean a majority. Many United fans will be hoping it is the latter, with many unhappy with the way the club has been run over recent years.

Reports have claimed the Glazers are looking for a fee of between £6billion and £8billion to sell all of their shares, and there are very few who could afford such a fee. That could mean a consortium bid is more likely, as we saw with the sale of Chelsea recently.

Though, some reports have claimed there is interest in Dubai, following the trend of Middle Eastern investment in the Premier League over recent years. A report from Arabian Business has claimed a group of investors from Dubai could be first to make a bid, and one worth £8.billion no less.

The report does not, however, say who would be behind the bid, and therein could lie the issues. Some reports have claimed the Dubai International Capital fund could be part of the bid. The DIC is the sovereign wealth fund of Dubai, which is run by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

DIC have also been linked with taking over Liverpool, who are also for sale, and amid previous links, a source told The Independent: “Buying a football club makes sense with a lot of what is happening in Dubai. They [the Dubai ruling elite, and by extension, DIC] are doing all sorts of things in and around Dubai in terms of business, tourism, sports and leisure and owning a football club like Liverpool fits together very nicely. English football is an incredibly powerful international brand.”

The DIC fund is worth an estimated £12.2billion, and while that may not be enough to buy United and have sufficient funds to spare, the fund could attempt to part of a consortium bid, as has been mentioned. But there is a big issue.

Dubai leader, Rahid Al Maktoum, would become subject to the Premier League’s ownership test should he or his fund become part of the bid. The problem with that is the family links Rahid Al Maktoum has with Manchester City owner Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

City owner Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan is one of the deputy ministers of the United Arab Emirates, and he is married to the daughter of Dubai leader and prime minister of UAE Rahid Al Maktoum. That would mean United would be owned by the father in law of the Man City owner, and beyond that, prospective United owner Rahid al Maktoum is Mansour bin Zayed’s boss, given he is prime minister and Mansour - who rules Abu Dhabi - is one of his deputies.

That would raise huge red flags at the Premier League office, with the league not likely to allow any sort of links in the ownerships of two of the biggest clubs in the competition, and that becomes an even bigger factor when the two teams in question are from the same city.

This could all change if the investment group does not include the DIC fund, but there will still be questions over the links between the investors and the Dubai, Abu Dhabi and United Arab Emirates governments.