Man United takeover: ‘Sheikh Jassim could launch £8bn move after new whispers’
Sheikh Jassim of Qatar has once again emerged as a potential route to a full takeover at Man United despite Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s minority investment around 18 months ago.
The Glazer Family’s drag-along rights will become active within months, potentially forcing Ratcliffe to sell his stake in United if a full takeover is agreed.
INEOS chief Ratcliffe has so far failed to transform fortunes at Old Trafford and has proved an unpopular figure with staff and fans after embarking on huge cost-cutting measures.
Man United, who announced plans for a 100,000-seat new stadium earlier this year, will be without European football in the 2025-26 campaign.
Nevertheless, Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – has insisted he can see Sheikh Jassim resurrecting his takeover interest in the near future.
‘Sheikh Jassim whispers are ramping up at Man United’, says Wyness
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted Jassim would have to make a bid of around £7-8billion for the club to tempt the Glazers into doing a deal.
He previously promised to wipe the club’s huge debt and delist the club from the New York Stock Exchange.
Wyness told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “The whispering campaign has been ramped up again.
“I’ve had two people call me asking if Sheikh Jassim could come back in again.
“I think he could. We’ve seen the mess Ratcliffe has made.
“There may be a number where he gets an increase on his investment. He could get his investment back, and he may decide the time is right.
“It would have to be around the £7-8billion mark. When you look at NFL franchises at around £10billion, then United have to be worth a similar amount.
“At that number, I would consider the Glazers to be sellers.
“They do have drag-along rights with Ratcliffe.”
Man United close in on Cunha deal
Meanwhile, Football Insider has revealed (23 May) that Matheus Cunha’s move to Man United is at a very advanced stage despite their failure to qualify for the Champions League.
| Appearances (Starts) | 35 (30) |
| Minutes Played | 2742 |
| Goals | 17 |
| Assists | 6 |
| Yellow Cards | 3 |
| Red Cards | 1 |
Sources say the deal has now been wrapped up and will be announced “soon” after his £62.5million release clause was triggered in recent weeks.
He has hit 17 goals for Wolves this season, also adding six assists.
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