Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani has now 'jumped' Sir Jim Ratcliffe in the race to buy Manchester United, it is claimed.
Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim and Britain's richest man Ratcliffe have submitted several offers for the Premier League club.
Reports last week said United were in exclusive talks with Sheikh Jassim, who submitted a fifth and final offer to the club earlier this month.
There is growing speculation that the Qatari banker has succeeded with his latest bid, expected to be worth around $6.5bn (£5.2bn) - with an additional investment An additional $1 billion (about £800 million) into the club is also committed.
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However, the BBC reports that Raine - the banking group acting on behalf of the owners, the Glazer family - has not yet granted an exclusive license to the deal - and negotiations are continuing with interested parties. Sheikh Jassim is currently leading Ratcliffe
This information has been supported by Guardian journalist Sean Ingle, who claims that Sheikh Jassim and Ratcliffe continue to hunt for the club, although the Qatari banker is currently the most popular.
“The feeling, both in public and in private, is that Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani's Nine Two Foundation far outweighed Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS bid after making its fifth bid and also the price," said Ingle. final bid this month”.
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“That said, it is understandable that the two sides were still in active and detailed discussions last week, and very few people behind the scenes were willing to place a firm bet.
“Part of that is because the process is unclear and the full motives of the Glazers are uncertain — as well as the way Raine, the US bank that handled the sale, has repeatedly tried to raise prices.
"Even so, most believe we're in the late stages."
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It's been over 200 days since the Glazers first announced they were exploring 'strategic alternatives' to the club, and effectively put it up for sale. There is growing concern about the length of the buying process and its potential impact on United's summer transfer business, with the domestic transfer window now open for English clubs. .
Neville rates Glazers as 'trouble'
United legend Gary Neville launched a fresh attack on the Glazers on Tuesday.
"I think it's embarrassing," Neville told BBC Radio 5 Live when asked about the ongoing story.
"But that's what they did, pulling everything. It was always in their interest, not in the interest of the football club. "I thought they would wait until the end of the season and beyond the FA Cup final to not protest and the matter would be handled fairly quickly. But only through discussions with journalists and people around the club, no news.
“The idea that Manchester United Football Club, with its millions of fans in this country and around the world, is not kept up to date by their owners about the sale of the property is really not good enough.
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"But that goes with the ownership of the Glazers and how they've operated quietly and away from the American club for 20 years now."
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