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

Tom Weber

• Updated: 26 Apr 2023 20:53 BST
• 3 min read

The latest developments in the Manchester United takeover saga will infuriate Red Devils fans.

Though much improved under Erik ten Hag on the pitch, uncertainty has been looming over Old Trafford off the pitch with the Glazer brothers initially putting Manchester United up for sale only to then decide that perhaps staying on board in some capacity would be the smarter business decision.

This uncertainty has given rise to plenty of divergent interpretations as to where exactly negotiations stand at the moment. Indeed, recent reports claimed that the Qatari suitor, Sheikh Jassim Ben Hamad Al Thani, had pulled out of the race to get involved in Manchester United.

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These reports were later debunked by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. Nevertheless, with the current owners unsatisfied with the previous offers they received, it looks increasingly likely that United fans won't see the back of the unpopular Americans anytime soon, even if a deal with a buyer get struck.

With this in mind, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who owns Ligue 1 club Nice, has submitted his latest proposal, which may be attractive to the Glazers, but certainly not to the fans.

What is Ratcliffe offering?

According to fresh reports from the Daily Mail, Ratcliffe is proposing a deal that will see the Glazers remain stakeholders with the two brothers, Avram and Joel, retaining a combined 20 per cent stake in the club.

"Those close to the process," the Mail writes, "which is being run by US merchant bank Raine Group, say the prospect may well prove to be the preferred option with the two Glazer brothers...given an opportunity to stay."

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The final deadline for bids is this Friday, with Sheikh Jassim understood to be ready to submit one last offer for total control of the club before that date. Regardless of whether Ratcliffe or Jassim end up in control of the Red Devils, it is expected that significant investment is coming United's way in the future.