EXPRESS
Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe requesting Manchester United takeover extensions ‘hasn’t gone down well’ with club chiefs, according to reports. It emerged on Wednesday that both parties hadn’t tabled new bids for the club. And whether that impacts their chances of ousting the Glazers ultimately remains to be seen.
According to the Telegraph, Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim have angered the United hierarchy by requesting takeover extensions.
But while they failed to lodge new offers by Wednesday’s 9pm deadline, both candidates are expected to submit fresh bids on Thursday as they look to seize power.
Both Sheikh Jassim and Ratcliffe are said to feel they are the only ‘serious contenders for an outright purchase’.
And that’s despite the club holding talks with up to eight groups, with the Glazers looking for a fee over £5billion, and potentially as high as £8bn, to walk away.
Four of the Glazer family, even, Edward, Bryan and Darcie, are described as ‘eager’ to sell for the right price.
Yet Joel and Avram, who have long been the big heavyweight figures at United during the Americans’ 18 years of rule, remain open to the idea of a partial sale or minority investment.
It is currently unknown who first asked for an extension.
But both Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim are expected to table new bids imminently in the hope they’ll acquire United and end the Glazers’ regime.
The family have owned the club ever since 2005, having bought the Red Devils for a fee close to £750million that year.
Initially the trophies kept coming, with Sir Alex Ferguson ensuring they remain competitive despite big takeovers at Manchester City and Chelsea.
Since the Scot’s retirement in 2013, however, United have struggled to win the biggest trophies on offer.
David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have all been hired and fired, with the quartet enduring mixed fortunes in the dugout.
Only now, under Erik ten Hag, do United look like potentially becoming a force once again.
Whatever happens, the Dutchman is believed to be in line for a new contract come the end of the season.
United started the Ten Hag era poorly, losing their opening two Premier League fixtures against Brighton and Brentford.
