Qatar’s goal of buying Man Utd could be resolved this week as Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani has submitted a fifth and final offer for the club, according to media reports.
The Daily Mail says a final bid to buy the English Premier League side has been submitted by Qatari investors.
A bid said to be in the region of $7.4bn has been lodged, with a deadline of this Friday to resolve the matter.
Qatar Man Utd bid
Sheikh Jassim has submitted Qatar’s latest bid directly to the club’s current owners – the American Glazer family, and the Raine Group bankers.
If the bid is not accepted by Friday, the Qatari investors will withdraw their interest and halt negotiations, according to the reports.
Ratcliffe’s bid is thought to be for a portion of the club, leaving the Glazer family with a financial interest.
Sheikh Jassim’s escalating offers have been to take full control of the club with 100 per cent ownership.
Many Man Utd fans have been eagerly awaiting the potential sale to Qatar, with the bid said to include a promise to invest heavily in the squad as well as developing infrastructure around the club, including upgrades to the iconic Old Trafford Stadium and the surrounding area.
The latest improved Qatar bid would eclipse the $6bn world record fee for a sports team paid for NFL side the Washington Commanders. It is also the closest to the asking price of $7.5bn asked for by the Glazer family.
Man Utd put potential bidders on red alert when it effectively put the club up for sale in November last year.
A statement from Manchester United at the time said: “Manchester United plc, one of the most successful and historic sports clubs in the world, announces today that the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) is commencing a process to explore strategic alternatives for the club.
“The process is designed to enhance the club’s future growth, with the ultimate goal of positioning the club to capitalise on opportunities both on the pitch and commercially.
“As part of this process, the Board will consider all strategic alternatives, including new investment into the club, a sale, or other transactions involving the Company.
“This will include an assessment of several initiatives to strengthen the club, including stadium and infrastructure redevelopment, and expansion of the club’s commercial operations on a global scale, each in the context of enhancing the long-term success of the club’s men’s, women’s and academy teams, and bringing benefits to fans and other stakeholders”
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