Kieran Maguire: Man United takeover bidders could sign 'unique' contract - 'it will excite fans'

Kieran Maguire: Man United takeover bidders could sign 'unique' contract - 'it will excite fans'

Kieran Maguire

Kieran joined the Football Insider squad in January 2021 and provides clarity for readers on the occasionally bewildering world of football finance. He is an author, university lecturer and all-round spreadsheet boffin. His 2020 book The Price of Football is a seminal work on the economic side of the beautiful game.

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Man United bidders could sign a 'unique' contract to allow them to dictate the club's transfer budget this summer.

That is the view of finance expert Kieran Maguire, who spoke exclusively to Football Insider about the Red Devils' transfer plans amid takeover talks.

The Glazer family are currently considering bids from both Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim after ordering a third round of bidding with a late-April deadline.

Ratcliffe's bid is for the Glazers' stake in the club, whereas the Qatari bid intends to purchase 100 per cent of the club.

With the transfer window set to open on June 13, there is a risk that the takeover may not be completed by the time Erik ten Hag plans to improve his squad.

Maguire believes a 10-week delay will impact the recruitment and commercial side of the club, but explained that a contract may be signed to help a preferred bidder take control of the budget.

"If approval is given in terms of preferred bidder status, there could be a separate unique contract signed which would allow for the preferred bidder to take responsibility for the transfer budget over the course of the summer," Maguire told Football Insider.

"That would therefore give Erik ten Hag and his recruitment team a degree of certainty.

Man United

"The worst thing that could happen is that negotiations drag on over the summer.

"There might perhaps be a compromise where the bigger bidder does take on some responsibility with regards to Manchester United's transfer plans."

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