United’s unpopular owners announced in November that they were undertaking a strategic review.© AFP
According to reports, Manchester United’s rival bidders have been invited to submit a third offer by the end of April. Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani and British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe both made second bids for the Premier League club last month. Several offers have been received in recent weeks, but Sheikh Jassim and Ratcliffe are the frontrunners to buy United should the Glazers give up control of the club they bought in 2005 for £790 million ($980 million). Had given.
United’s unpopular owners announced in November that they were undertaking a strategic review, with a sale of the club being considered as an option.
The Qatari group has reportedly made an offer of around £5bn for 100 per cent ownership of the club, while Ratcliffe, a boyhood United fan, wants to buy out the combined Glazer shareholding of 69 per cent.
The Americans’ demand is believed to be around $6 billion – a figure that would make the 20-time English champions the most expensive sports club in history.
Finnish entrepreneur Thomas Zilliakas entered the race last month and US hedge fund Elliott Investment Management has made a bid for a minority stake.
The Glazers have angered many United supporters by piling up the club heavily in debt over the last 18 years.
They appeared poised to cash in on huge gains when they invited outside investment in November, but they could still give up the option of selling a controlling stake.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and was auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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