Man Utd takeover: Sheikh Jassim to enter EXCLUSIVE negotiations as Qatar makes breakthrough

Robin Bairner

• 16 Jun 2023 10:35 BST
• 2 min read

Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani is poised to enter exclusive negotiations with Manchester United owners the Glazers to secure a takeover of the club, Reuters reports.

Man Utd were put on the market late in 2022, and though it was initially hoped that the club would be sold by the spring of 2023, the takeover process has dragged out into several stages of bidding.

The bid fronted by the Qatar-based businessman has been competing primarily with that of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS to buy the Old Trafford club.

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Sheikh Jassim, though, has been eager to force the issue and threatened to walk away from talks after giving the Glazers a deadline to accept a deal earlier this month.

This was not met, but the Qatar bid remains in the running and, according to Reuters, is very much the favourite, with the Glazers “on the brink” of going into exclusive negotiations this bid.

These reports are now being echoed by the likes of Sky News Arabia and RMC, suggesting there is substance behind them.

RMC reports that there are discussions underway regarding the route that these discussions will take.

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What Qatar takeover means for Man Utd’s transfer window

If Sheikh Jassim goes into exclusive talks with the Glazers over a buyout, it would mean a big step forward in the takeover process but would not necessarily mean a sale of the club.

Furthermore, this step is unlikely to be of immediate help to manager Erik ten Hag, who has been frustrated in the transfer market by the slow nature of the takeover. He is still unaware of his transfer budget this summer – despite the window now being open.

Man Utd have several targets lined up, including Chelsea’s Mason Mount and Napoli’s Kim Min-jae, yet there is no guarantee that the takeover will be completed in time for either deal to be done. It is estimated that even if Qatar are successful in the takeover, the process will not be completed until after the start of the Premier League season.

Sheikh Jassim, though, is expected to pour significant funds into Man Utd over time, with the aim of re-establishing the Old Trafford side as the biggest club in the world.