Man Utd takeover: When will preferred bidder be selected?

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 26 Apr 2023 21:57 BST
• 3 min read

The Manchester United takeover has rumbled on for what seems like an eternity - but now a time-frame has been given for when the Glazers will name their preferred bidder.

Indeed, the Daily Mail report that the deadline for closing bids is this Friday, so the chosen party will be announced ‘within days’.

In the running are Qatari Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, who will present his concluding offer for full control, and Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

READ MORE: Man Utd takeover: Sir Jim Ratcliffe offers Glazers deal too good to pass up

The Ineos chief is thought to be looking to take on a partial stake, by contrast, in a deal that would enable Joel and Avram Glazer to remain stakeholders in the club.

It would be a popular move given that it will allow the Glazers to remain in control to a degree.

The idea is for the British billionaire to have more than 50 per cent, with the two Glazers retaining a combined 20 per cent.

It will leave the Glazers connected to the Premier League giants, while Ratcliffe also owns Ligue 1 outfit Nice.

Glazers protest

It comes after a Man Utd supporters group revealed plans for a protest against the Glazers after the process of the sale has dragged on into late April.

The group plan their demonstration when their side face off against Aston Villa - they plan to head from the city centre to Old Trafford under the slogan ‘full sale only’.

Indeed, Sheikh Jassim is the favoured option among supporters, given that he will offer full control and allow fans to be rid of unpopular current owners, who have held the club for 18 years.

The American family havee drained more than £1.1billion out of Man Utd via dividends - without returning any investment into the club’s infrastructure.