According to a reliable source close to Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, he has recently submitted his fifth and final bid to purchase Manchester United.
Sheikh Jassim’s offer entails acquiring 100% ownership of the club, clearing its debt, and allocating a separate fund for the club and local community. The Ineos Group, led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, is another prominent party involved in the bidding process for the Premier League club.
As of March, Manchester United’s outstanding financial obligations amounted to £969.6m, including gross debt, bank borrowings, and unpaid transfer fees.
The Glazer family, the current owners, announced their intention to explore strategic alternatives and potentially sell the club in November. While the Glazer family has not responded since the previous bid deadline on 28 April, there were indications in May that Ineos was growing confident about their chances of acquiring Manchester United.
Reports suggest that Sir Jim Ratcliffe has proposed adjusting the percentage of United he intends to purchase, initially aiming for a 69% stake but considering a lower amount above 50%. This adjustment could allow co-chairmen Joel and Avram Glazer to retain some level of involvement. However, the Glazer family has not provided any timeline for their decision on the club’s future direction.
Having purchased Manchester United for £790m in 2005, the Glazer family has set a valuation for the club between £5bn and £6bn. As the final bid from Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani awaits a response, the outcome of the ownership battle remains uncertain.