The impending sale of Manchester United has entered the most crucial stage as interested parties are getting ready to submit their third and final offers to acquire the club from the Glazer family.
The Glazer family initially signalled their willingness to part ways with a minority or full stake in the club last year and since then, a bidding process has been initiated.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS firm and Sheikh Jassim’s Qatari consortium have both submitted two bids believed to be in the region of £5bn.
It was revealed last week that neither of the bids submitted were sufficient and that a third round of bidding would commence as opposed to the Glazer family entering exclusivity with one of the bidders.
Earlier on Tuesday, it was revealed that Sheikh Jassim remained confident his bid would see the deal be completed in his favour following reports that US investment firm Carlyle Group were interested in a minority stake.
Carlyle Group’s interest had sparked some debate among supporters, with fans growing increasingly worried that the owners may stick around with help from outside investments. Now, there is an update on the situation.
According to the Daily Mail, the Glazer family parting ways with the entirety of their stake in the club is still seen as the most likely outcome after months of speculation.
In the report, only Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim are named as parties involved to purchase the club outright but there are reportedly ‘multiple’ groups looking to supply the club with investment in exchange for a minority stake.
But it is added that sources close to the deal believe that a minority stale remains the least likely outcome out of the two scenarios. The prospect of toxicity surrounding the Glazer’s ownership compounding is seen as a factor.
This is far from the last we will hear of the sale process and there will be additional updates soon, with the third round of bidding set to end on April 28.
