At least five ‘serious bidders’ are prepared to meet the Glazer family’s asking price for Manchester United as the mid-February deadline for takeover bids approaches.
The club’s American owners announced their intention to welcome takeover offersannounced their intention to welcome takeover offers back in November, with significant interest in succeeding the controversial and unpopular current ownership at Old Trafford.
Reports this week have suggested Qatari investors were planning a proposal that would ‘blow the competition out of the water’ in the battle to takeover the Red Devils, though the Times are reporting there are at least five ‘serious bidders’ prepared to meet the Glazer’s valuation of £5 billion.
Among them is Sir Jim Ratcliffe, regarded as Britain’s richest man. Ratcliffe failed with his bid to takeover at Chelsea in 2022, but has stepped up his pursuit of Manchester United after bringing in major investment banks JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs.
Ratcliffe is the only interested party to have gone public with his intention to table an offer, but won’t be alone in submitting a bid for the Premier League side.
According to the report, the United States has been regarded as the likeliest location for new owners since the news of United’s availability was announced, though proposals from the Middle East – including Qatar and Saudi Arabia – have the potential to outbid rival interest.
Qatar have also been linked with taking an investment in either of Liverpool or Tottenham, with the former also up for sale.
