Man Utd takeover twist as Sheikh Jassim lodges FINAL ‘take it or leave it’ bid despite Sir Jim Ratcliffe leading race
SHEIKH JASSIM has launched a last-ditch bid to buy Manchester United, according to reports.
The Qatari remains eager to buy the Red Devils, despite Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos being selected as preferred bidder.
Ratcliffe’s offer would see Ineos purchase a majority stake in United, with the Glazers remaining as minority shareholders.
Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, meanwhile, wants to buy the club in its entirety.
According to the Mail, Sheikh Jassim has “significantly” improved his bid.
But it is still said to value United at a lower rate than Ratcliffe’s.
Sheikh Jassim’s last-ditch offer comes after Avram Glazer was spotted leaving a hotel owned by the takeover hopeful’s father.
Pictures published by The Mirror showed Glazer leaving Claridge’s.
The hotel is parent company of the Maybourne Hotel Group, owned by Sheikh Jassim’s father, Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani.
A huge complication over the five-month selling process, which has seen THREE rounds of bidding, was the growing desire by co-chairmen Joel and Avram Glazer to remain at the club.
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But the American family are finally ready to sell United — and Ratcliffe remains the frontrunner.
Ratcliffe and his Ineos petro-chemicals giant have been engaged in a drawn-out bidding war with Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani for ownership of British football’s biggest club.
The Glazers’ chosen deal-makers, the US-based Raine Group, are expected to confirm the “winning” bid within days.