US financial investor Carlyle reportedly has a ‘serious’ interest in making a ‘major investment’ in Manchester United.
The proposed takeover of Manchester United is a story that has dragged on ever since the Glazers’ announced their intention to seek ‘strategic alternatives‘ to the club’s financing, up to and including a full sale.
Since then a whole host of claims and counterclaims have been made regarding interested parties, with only a handful going public in their interest.
Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani is thought to be the frontrunner in the process, though Britain’s richest man, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, is a close second favourite – both parties looking to make a full takeover of Manchester United.
There are also a number who are known to be interested in taking a minority stake in the club, something that would perhaps allow the hugely unpopular Glazers to retain power, with US hedge fund Elliott Management having tabled a bid.
According to Sky News, American financial investor Carlyle is also in talks about making a ‘major investment’ in the Old Trafford outfit, and have ‘pitched proposals to acquire a minority stake’.
Carlyle is one of the world’s largest private investment firms with assets of around $370 billion (£298m), and have owned UK companies such as the RAC and Addison-Lee.
According to the report, Carlyle’s interest in United is ‘serious’, and the company have been ‘engaged in discussions for some time’.
Earlier this week, it was reported that potential investors have been set a deadline of April 28th in order to submit a third and final improved bid, as the Glazers look to maximise their returns; the current owners widely believed to want to achieve a price of £6 billion.
