Sheikh Jassim to submit £5bn bid for Man United before the deadline tonight
An improved bid for Manchester United - that breaks the £5bn mark – is to be submitted by Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani tonight.
The Qatari is set to lodge a concluding offer that would break the world record for a sports franchise, ahead of the 10pm final deadline. However, it remains well short of the £6bn the club’s owners, the Glazer family, are thought to be seeking.
Sheikh Jassim’s bid is thought to be the only one for full control of the Premier League giants. He wants 100% of the club and his deal would buy out the Glazers and all other shareholders. The Qatari’s offer is improved from his previous bid, but he will not go anywhere near £6bn and is determined not to grossly overpay, according to those with knowledge of the process.
Sheikh Jassim’s main rival for United is Sir Jim Ratcliffe. The British billionaire is seeking a controlling stake of more than 50 per cent, but his offer would allow two brothers from owners the Glazer family, Joel and Avram, to retain their 20 per cent stake. That is being viewed as a controversial move which would infuriate large sections of United’s fanbase, should it be successful.
A major bidding war including numerous parties appears to have failed to materialise after the Glazers put the club up for sale in November. There are offers of investment in exchange for a partial stake from multiple groups including US financial giants Carlyle and Elliott.
Ousmane Dembele makes Barcelona return ahead of Real Betis clash
Barcelona are boosted by the long awaited return of Ousmane Dembele for their La Liga clash with Real Betis this weekend.
La Blaugrana area closing in on their first league title since 2019 in the coming weeks, but Xavi’s side are not over the line just yet, as they prepare to host the Andalucians.
French international Dembele has been eased back into action by Xavi in recent weeks after he suffered a hamstring injury at the end of January.
His return marks over three months on the sidelines, and Xavi has hinted at a substitute role for the winger, to build up his match fitness ahead of the campaign run-in.
Dembele’s return is one of two changes from Xavi, following the 2-1 midweek defeat away at Rayo Vallecano, as captain Sergio Busquets is also recalled, after being suspended for the trip to Vallecas.
Busquets is expected to come starting back into the Barcelona starting XI with Ferran Torres potentially d ropping to the bench.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0