The Glazer family may not be selling Manchester United after receiving bids that fell short of their valuation, but they are exploring ways to capitalize on the club’s global fan base through external investment.
Meanwhile, interested parties are eager to reach an agreement before the summer transfer window.
The Glazer family could be taking Manchester United off the market, and instead, they’re looking at ways to make money from the club’s global fan base.
Interested parties had until February 17th to table takeover bids, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani both submitting their offers before the closing date.
Manchester-born billionaire and INEOS owner Ratcliffe, a boyhood supporter of Man United, and Qatari Sheikh Jassim, who has proposed plans to clear the club’s debts, are both said to have progressed through to the second round of the takeover process.
But, the latest reports suggest that the Glazers may be pulling the plug on the sale of the club altogether due to the current offers on the table falling short of their £6bn valuation.
However, the Glazers could use external cash to create a new company to help push the club’s merchandising and digital commercial operation, with up to four US hedge funds expressing interest.
Although the prospect of any interested parties completing a takeover of Man United is unlikely to take place before May at the earliest, potential new owners are keen to reach a full agreement before the summer transfer window.
Man United, currently holding the third spot in the Premier League table, took a significant stride towards securing their place in the Europa League quarter-finals by defeating Real Betis 4-1 at Old Trafford in the first leg of their last-16 encounter on Thursday.
