United have been up for sale since November 2022. A lengthy, drawn out sale process has since taken place with two main bidders vying for the chance to own the top-flight giants.
British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Qatari Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani have both made offers believed to be in the region of around £5billion. A final round of bidding took place in March, with Sheikh Jassim reportedly making a proposal straight to the Glazer family.
Updates on the takeover process have since been scarce, though. Neither party are clear on the next course of action.
According to the i paper, at least one bidding party considers the process to have been ‘paused’. A source close to one of the hopefuls allegedly told the publication: “We’ve not been given any guidance at all on what comes next.
“There haven’t been requests to modify the offers or come up with a new round of bids as there was earlier in the process, there’s just been no communication whatsoever of late.”
Therre is reportedly a suspicion that Avram and Joel Glazer – two of the leading figures of the current ownership group – have been disappointed by the value of bids made. In addition, there is supposedly a feeling that the value of the club could soar in the coming years.
A new television rights deal is being negotiated. That, alongside the growth of the game in their native US and the new Champions League format, could tempt the Glazer siblings to remain in control of the club of which they have owned a majority stake since 2005.
No new takeover could be viewed as a blow for head coach Ten Hag. The Dutchman is desperate for an influx of funds to help him complete an overhaul of his squad this summer.
United have already spent nearly £200m on acquiring Mason Mount, Andre Onana and soon-to-be new striker Rasmus Hojlund. However, additions are required in other areas of the pitch. Central midfield remains of pressing concern, with the Red Devils linked with Fiorentina’s Moroccan star Sofyan Amrabat.
A new centre-back is also a priority. United missed out on signing Kim Min-jae, who has joined Bayern Munich from Napoli.