Manchester United sale: Sheikh Jassim’s £5bn bid could make it the most expensive club in the world | UK News

Manchester United may develop into the costliest sports activities staff on this planet, after a Qatari businessman entered a record-breaking provide because the bidding window slammed closed.

Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad, who chairs the Qatar Islamic Financial institution, submitted his final offer for the club on Friday, Sky Information understands, with the determine provided considered round £5bn.

The Qatari is claimed to be in search of 100% possession.

Sheikh Jassim’s provide would make United the costliest sports activities staff in historical past by not less than £200m, eclipsing the £4.8bn ongoing deal to purchase NFL aspect Washington Commanders, however nonetheless falls brief of the Glazers’ own valuation of the membership at round £6bn.

It will embody a assure of a separate pot of funding to strengthen Erik Ten Hag’s aspect, in addition to creating the infrastructure across the membership by way of each the Previous Trafford stadium and coaching floor, in addition to the native space.

INEOS proprietor Jim Ratcliffe has additionally submitted his final bid for the club, with Sky Sports activities Information saying the deal would solely get him round 50% of the membership’s shares, which may go away the present homeowners Avram and Joel Glazer with a mixed 40% of management.

Leaving the Glazer household with any management of the membership would probably anger fan teams, who’ve for a while wished to completely minimize ties with the outgoing homeowners.

The Florida-based Elliott funding fund’s deliberate bid for a minority stake within the membership has but to be confirmed, together with every other excellent presents made late within the day.

The ultimate spherical of bidding strikes the membership a step nearer to ending the five-month saga for the reason that Glazers first introduced they had been contemplating promoting United in November 2022.

“Folks near the Sheikh have been telling me they’re satisfied that is one of the best bid,” defined chief Sky Sports activities Information reporter Kaveh Solhekol.

“They assume there’s not one which comes near this. It is for 100% of the membership, it is debt free, and cash shall be made out there not simply to Erik Ten Hag, but in addition for enhancing the infrastructure across the membership; doing the form of factor Man Metropolis have carried out in Manchester.

Learn extra on the Man United takeover:
Who are contenders to buy Man Utd?
Manchester United sale: Eight bids could be made as Wednesday deadline looms

Over the approaching days the Glazer household and Raine Group, who helped to finish Chelsea’s sale to American billionaire Todd Boehly final yr, are anticipated to contemplate the bids on the desk and which, if any, to simply accept.

United followers have been at odds with the Glazers way back to 2005, once they bought the membership and plunged it into debt.

A protest is deliberate by a fan group referred to as the 1958 at Sunday’s sport towards Aston Villa, the place supporters will march by means of Manchester and boycott 18 minutes of the sport.

“We boycott the sport for 18 minutes,” the 1958 mentioned. “One minute for every year the Glazers have pushed our membership into the bottom.”