Man Utd takeover: Bidders fly to Old Trafford as talks step up

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 9 Mar 2023 13:05 GMT
• 3 min read

Talks between Manchester United and potential buyers will begin before the weekend.

A report in The Times says that bidders will start arriving on Thursday - with representatives for the Qataris coming in the subsequent week.

Is it thought that New York bankers, Raine, have invited at least four bidding groups for the second stage of proceedings after initial bids were made by the soft deadline on February 17.

The Qatari group, spearheaded by Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, is considered to be the favourite, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s party in behind.

Talks will take place at Old Trafford, where the groups will be able to look into finances around the stadium itself and Carrington, the club’s training ground.

Redevelopment of those two infrastructures could cost up to £2 billion. The meetings will lead to a third round of talks - where the groups will be given full access of the club’s data, before they can make a final offer. This final bid will come with a period of exclusivity.

The bidders have been instructed not to make further public comments while the process is underway.

Glazers to remain?

Underneath it will there are still lingering ideas that the controversial Glazer family may not look to sell the club entirely, and instead, keep a portion of the side under their stewardship.

Avram and Joel Glazer - the siblings most well-known in the football circle - are believed to have an emotional attachment to the club, while the other members of the family wish to force through a full sale.

In particular, Avram was seen celebrating last month’s Carabao Cup win over Newcastle at Wembley, even speaking to Sir Alex Ferguson.

The bid via Ratcliffe is for 69 per cent Glazer stake. Groups from America, currently unnamed, are looking for a minority investment.