Editor’s Column: Waiting for candidates to emerge for Manchester United takeover

The Glazer family’s controversial 17-year reign at Manchester United has taken a significant step towards reaching a conclusion the fans have been waiting for. A statement was published on Tuesday night stating that Manchester United was for sale.

We don’t know yet who the early front-runners are to buy Manchester United. It’s been less than a week since the Glazers announced their plans to seek out investment and they mentioned a potential “sale” as being part of the agenda. Apple, Facebook and Amazon are among a list of technology companies linked with an acquisition, but that is only speculation for now.

Who can possibly afford to throw £4-6 billion up front, then spend another billion on much needed stadium renovations and a considerable upgrade to the club’s training and development facilities? United have gone from being the best in class to a remnant of relative antiquity thanks to the Glazers. Old Trafford looks like a wreck in some areas after going untouched for the last 17 years.

There is no doubt that there will be interest from the Middle East – and I don’t think that will be exclusive to Dubai, which is one of the few Gulf States that has yet to invest their ridiculous wealth in European football. Saudi Arabia are tied up with Newcastle United, Qatar opted for Paris Saint-Germain and Abu Dhabi bought Manchester City.

A lot of Manchester United fans reading this won’t want to see their beloved club become another victim to sports-washing, though, and I completely understand that.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe will make a formal offer, but I can’t see him being successful on his own. A large section of United’s online fanbase (Uber fans) believe he could be the saviour, but just like the other billionaires seen as candidates, Ratcliffe will look at it as a business acquisition and not something he wants to do for the greater good of Manchester. It’s going to be about money for him rather than a project from the heart.

Groups from Dubai and other states in the Middle East have got a different agenda. It’s not so much about the money they make but brand value. From my understanding, that is where the real value stems for these people. It’s about what they can leverage from owning such a big brand.

Of course, it’s too early to say what way this is heading but we can be certain that American investment groups will be involved. There’s a lot of crap doing the rounds in the media ahead of what will be an intriguing race to buy the biggest football club in the world.

The Glazers have thrown out bait to see how much money will be put on the table. Chelsea’s £2 billion sale to Todd Boehly’s consortium has only strengthened their belief that now is the right time to cash out – just like Fenway Sports Group at Liverpool.

In recent months, we know the Glazers have observed Chelsea’s sale closely as well as FSG outlined their intentions to sell Liverpool. Their statement was more revealing than that of FSG, containing the word ‘sale’ at least, and it looks like they are involved in a race against their fiercest rivals for the biggest bidder. If the Glazers waited any longer, they would run the risk of missing out on a potential sale of their own.

The biggest factor for the Glazers and FSG to cash out comes from the collapse of the European Super League in 2021. Project Big Picture was another incentive — back in 2020 — that fell flat on its face after being unanimously rejected by the Premier League.

Now it’s time to wait for the genuine candidates to emerge.

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