Man United takeover: This is when deal could now complete after new twist – sources
Leading minority shareholders in Man United now believe that questions about the future ownership of the club may not be resolved until after the end of the season, Football Insider has learned.
Takeover brokers Raine Group originally wanted a deal done in the first quarter of 2023, but it quickly become apparent once bidding started that that was not realistic.
As revealed by Football Insider last week, the Glazers will now review an unexpected third round of bids from Sheik Jassim bin Hamad al Thani’s Qatari consortium, Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos group, and several US finance firms at the end of April.
Shareholders canvassed by this site are doubtful that a final decision will be made before the end of May and perhaps even weeks beyond that.
That timeline would disrupt Erik ten Hag‘s preparations for 2023-24, with decisions on the club’s transfer budget and strategy unlikely to be made without a new owner’s say-so.
United’s hunt for a new front-of-shirt sponsor – the most lucrative item in their commercial inventory, likely to be worth north of £60m per year – could also be delayed.
There is still a possibility that the Glazer family could remain at Old Trafford if they accept one of the finance packages tabled by four US investment firms – Elliott Management, Ares Management, Carlyle Group and Sixth Street Partners.
Joel and Avram Glazer are the most hesitant members of the family to sell up, and they could use external funds to buy out the four other siblings and fund infrastructure upgrades at the club.
In other news, two Man United senior scouts watched sensation Sanusi last night.