Man Utd news LIVE: Takeover LATEST as US billionaire makes HIJACK bid, Glazers £6bn budge, Ratcliffe and Qatar updates | The Sun
MANCHESTER UNITED bidders will be told the Glazers have no intention of selling for less than their £6billion asking price.
And that casts major doubt on rival offers of up to £5bn from Qatari Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani and Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
American hedge fund giants Elliott are also offering to stump up a package for a figurehead who wants to front any bid.
But one insider said: “It’s still not clear if the Glazers actually want to sell and — if they do — it will only be for top dollar."
On the pitch, United return against Leicester City in the Premier League today.
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- James Orr
Good morning Man Utd fans
The Head of Qatar’s biggest bank has been unveiled as the £4.5billion bidder to take control of Manchester United, writes SunSport's Martin Lipton.
Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, a member of the Gulf state’s ruling Royal Family, is aiming for a full buy-out of the club.
The 41-year-old, educated at the elite Sandhurst military academy in Berkshire and who claims to be a lifelong Red Devils fan, emerged as the man behind the previously secretive Qatari bid.
Sheikh Jassim, whose father Hamad is a former Prime Minister of Qatar, made his formal approach to the club’s bid supervisors, the US-based Raine Group, ahead of Friday's 10pm “soft” deadline.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe's bid to buy United is £4bn, which means it is almost £1bn less than the approximate £5bn Sheikh Jassim is believed to have tabled.
According to Foot Mercato, Ratcliffe has lodged an offer which falls short of the £6bn the Glazers are thought to be demanding to sell the club.
However, in contrast to the Qatari banker’s attempt to take full control, Ratcliffe's bid is for "majority ownership".
- Kostas Lianos
Qatar bidders' net worth?
Manchester United's interested bidder Sheikh Jassim is chairman of Qatari bank QIB, which has assets of £42billion, and is also part of Qatar's ruling royal family.
And his offer will raise questions over potential links with Paris Saint-Germain, who are owned by the £370bn Qatari Investment Authority.
Meanwhile, The Sunday Times 'Rich List' in 2022 estimated his personal fortune at £6.1bn.
And his overall net worth is around £11.3bn, as per Bloomberg
- Kostas Lianos
United 'monitoring' Abraham
Manchester United are monitoring former Chelsea ace Tammy Abraham's situation at Roma, according to 90min.
Abraham has been tipped with a return to the Premier League after a successful spell in the Italian capital.
Both United and Aston Villa have been linked with the striker ahead of the summer transfer window.
The England international has scored 34 goals in 83 appearances across all competitions with the Giallorossi
- Kostas Lianos
Harry Kane warning
Chris Waddle warned Manchester United that Tottenham superstar Harry Kane may not fit manager Erik ten Hag's style, writes SunSport's Kostas Lianos.
Waddle told SunSport: "It would be a bit of a strange one; Harry Kane’s a great footballer and his goal record is phenomenal, I think he could fit into most teams.
"But normally I’ve got to say that Ten Hag likes somebody who starts the pressing, that’s why he’s brought in Wout Weghorst. Obviously he’s not Harry Kane but the lad works very hard, he brings players up the field.
"He likes to go and press and that starts Man Utd's game plan. I don’t think that’s Harry Kane’s strength, turning and chasing different centre-halves down, he’s a different type of player.
"If you’re going to play a different style of football then obviously Harry Kane, as he does for Tottenham, he wants to come off the centre-halves and link the play, gets into little pockets where he’s hard to pick up.
"So, it would be a strange one I think for Ten Hag given the way he likes to play. It would look strange how Harry Kane would actually fit in with the way he plays. But he’s obviously a goalscorer and Man Utd want somebody.
"I know Marcus Rashford’s doing it at the minute but they need somebody up there whose going to get 20 goals plus every season"
- Kostas Lianos
De Gea replacement
Manchester United are ready to go to £250,000-a-week to keep David de Gea at Old Trafford, writes SunSport's Alan Nixon.
But United are already looking at Leeds’ goalkeeper Illan Meslier as his long-term replacement.
The Red Devils will try to get De Gea, 32, to extend his stay and are working towards a compromise figure.
They are set to keep his pay high — but not at £375,000-a-week as it stands.
United are willing to wait until there is a starting place to offer Meslier but the complication will be if the Whites go down and the Frenchman is sold.
United would then have to move swiftly to stop the 22-year-old going elsewhere
- Kostas Lianos
New Rashford shirt
Manchester United could reward Marcus Rashford with the club's most esteemed shirt number next season.
Rashford is in the form of his life having registered a total of 22 goals and eight assists in 35 appearances this season.
And the star forward has made a strong claim for the legendary No7 jersey, which is currently available.
The England international has been wearing the No10 shirt ever since 2018.
That is also a very respected number as it was previously donned by the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Denis Law and record goalscorer Wayne Rooney.
But No7 is always reserved for the absolute best, with the likes of George Best, Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo previously donning it
- Kostas Lianos
Carabao Cup blow
Newcastle have been dealt a double blow ahead of Sunday's Carabao Cup final against Manchester United.
Joelinton went off injured in the Premier League clash with Liverpool at St James' Park.
Nick Pope also handled the ball outside the penalty area, leaving the referee little choice but to brandish a red card.
Thus, Pope will miss the final with United as a result of the automatic one-game suspension.
And with backup goalkeeper Martin Dubravka cup tied having played for the Red Devils in the competition while on loan at Old Trafford earlier this season.
Loris Karius looks to be the man who will hope to shut United out
- Kostas Lianos
More on Weghorst
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag explained Wout Wghorst's position.
Ten Hag told United's official website: "Wout, as a second striker, a No10. I know him from [his] youth that he can play there.
"With Bruno [Fernandes] on the right and [Alejandro] Garnacho on the left, it was a dynamic to change the game and I think we can benefit from it.
"I think [Marcus] Rashford as a striker, Wout on the No10 position and Bruno on the right brought more composure to our game"
Credit: Getty - Kostas Lianos
Wout to glory
Manchester United ace Wout Weghorst has revealed the reason for his deeper playing position against Barcelona in midweek.
United fans dubbed it the "Fellaini role" in honour of their midfielder, who was often employed in the same position during his time at Old Trafford.
That was despite Marouane Fellaini being known as a central midfielder, while Weghorst is typically more of an out and out striker.
The Netherlands international told ESPN: "[The midfield] are very important for them to shift the game, my job was to constantly get in their way and be annoying there so that they don’t get into their game and can play the way they like to do.
"And to be able to make my depth actions offensively from the second line, because they are vulnerable in that. You saw that in the first half"
- Kostas Lianos
Sir Jim Ratcliffe bid
Sir Jim Ratcliffe's bid to buy Manchester United is £4billion, which means it is £1bn less than the £5bn Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani is believed to have tabled for the Red Devils.
Ratcliffe has lodged an offer worth £4bn, according to Foot Mercato, which falls short of the £6bn the Glazers are thought to be demanding to sell the club.
However, in contrast to Sheikh Jassim's attempt to take full control, Ratcliffe's bid is for "majority ownership".
The current owners set a soft deadline of 10pm on Friday for interested parties to submit their offers to buy the Red Devils
- Kostas Lianos
Gift of the Gab
Manchester United have agreed to sign 16-year-old Cardiff City wonderkid Gabriele Biancheri on a permanent deal.
Biancheri confirmed his exit from the Cardiff City Stadium with an official statement on Friday.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the striker is on his way to Old Trafford.
The Welsh teenager, who has already completed a medical, is expected to sign a four-year deal with United's academy within the next week.
Several other Premier League clubs were understood to be interested in signing him, but the Red Devils have won the transfer race
- Kostas Lianos
Man Utd's American dream
A US hedge fund will stump up £5billion for a last-gasp bid to hijack the Manchester United takeover.
The Glazer family initially set a soft deadline on Friday for interested parties to submit their offers and prove their source of funds.
But The Times report the billionaire hedge fund company Elliott are set to make their own incredible late effort.
Elliot are the former owners of AC Milan – selling the Serie A champions for £1bn in August – and worth a reported £46bn.
The investors are run by Paul Singer but have ruled out a full takeover from the Glazers.
Instead, they are hopeful of adding funds to another bid, which could provide a boost for a potential new owner without the financial power to win the battle.
That could see Elliott taking a stake, providing debt funding or a combination of both
Credit: Reuters - Kostas Lianos
Qatari bidders' statement
Sheikh Jassim’s PR group said: “The bid will be completely debt free via Sheikh Jassim’s Nine Two Foundation, which will look to invest in the football teams, the training centre, the stadium and wider infrastructure, the fan experience and the communities the Club supports.
“The vision of the bid is for Manchester United Football Club to be renowned for footballing excellence, and regarded as the greatest football club in the world.
“More details of the bid will be released, when appropriate, if and when the bid process develops.”
Sheikh Jassim’s promise to invest in both the men’s and women’s team, rebuild Old Trafford, invest in community projects and give fans a voice will tick a huge number of boxes for United supporters
- Kostas Lianos
Man Utd Qatari bid
The Head of Qatar’s biggest bank has unveiled himself as the £4.5billion bidder to take control of Manchester United, writes SunSport's Martin Lipton.
Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, a member of the Gulf state’s ruling Royal Family, is aiming for a full buy-out of the Old Trafford club.
The 41-year-old, educated at the elite Sandhurst military academy in Berkshire and who claims to be a lifelong United fan, emerged as the man behind the previously secretive Qatari bid.
Sheikh Jassim, whose father Hamad is a former Prime Minister of Qatar, made his formal approach to United’s bid supervisors, the US-based Raine Group, ahead of Friday's 10pm “soft” deadline.
The decision by the Qatari, chairman of the QIB bank which has assets of £42bn, to put his head above the parapet could be the most significant of all in the battle for United.
In a statement issued on his behalf by a senior London PR company, Sheikh Jassim said he planned to “return the Club to its former glories both on and off the pitch”.
- Kostas Lianos
Sir Jim Ratcliffe announcement
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has confirmed his bid for Manchester United's "majority ownership".
A statement read: "Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS have submitted a bid for majority ownership of Manchester United Football Club.
"We would see our role as the long-term custodians of Manchester United on behalf of the fans and the wider community.
"We are ambitious and highly competitive and would want to invest in Manchester United to make them the number one club in the world once again. We also recognise that football governance in this country is at a crossroads.
"We would want to help lead this next chapter, deepening the culture of English football by making the club a beacon for a modern, progressive, fan-centred approach to ownership.
"We want a Manchester United anchored in its proud history and roots in the North-West of England, putting the Manchester back into Manchester United and clearly focusing on winning the Champions League"
- Henry Tomlinson
Weghorst explains new role
The Dutch striker has also spoken about playing in a deeper role for the club.
Some fans have compared it to the way Maourane Fellaini would play and Erik ten Hag saw Weghorst play in the role during his teenager years.
He said: “Yeah, that was really in my younger days, to be honest!
“I think I was like 17 or 18 at the time, playing still as an amateur in the Netherlands but no, he mentioned it to me [at Leeds] at half-time that it could be an option to do some tactical switches.
“It happened in the second half and it went good for myself. It was actually new and the first time I’d played there but I quite liked it.
“The most important thing for me is to help the team. It helped us to win the match over there, doing also my defensive work.
“I took it on and, especially for the first time, I think I can be happy with it.”
Credit: Reuters - Henry Tomlinson
SHEIKH IT UP
Man United bidder Sheikh Jassim has illustrated his love for the club with the name of his company set up to bid for them.
Sheikh Jassim has called his company the "Nine Two Foundation" – in homage to the fabled Class of 92.
The Class of 92 has gone down in Manchester United folklore, as the academy team to have featured the likes of David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, the Neville brothers and Nicky Butt.
- Henry Tomlinson
AMERICAN TRY
An American hedge fund has launched a last-gasp £5billion bid to hijack the Manchester United takeover.
The Times report the billionaire hedge fund company Elliott have tabled their own incredible late effort.
Elliot are the former owners of AC Milan and worth a reported £46bn.
The investors are run by Paul Singer but have ruled out ambitions of a full takeover.
Instead, they are hopeful of adding funds to another bid, which could provide a boost for a wannabe new owner without the financial power to winning the battle.
That could see Elliott taking a stake in United, providing debt funding or a combination of both, the report adds.
FULL STORY HERE
- Henry Tomlinson
GIFT OF THE GAB
Man United have reportedly agreed to sign 16-year-old Cardiff City wonderkid Gabriele Biancheri on a permanent deal.
Biancheri confirmed his departure from the Cardiff City Stadium with an official statement on Friday.
It read: "After more than 9 years my time with Cardiff has come to an end.
"I’d like to thank all of my coaches for helping me become the player and person I am today and to all my teammates.
"I’ll forever be thankful for the opportunity I’ve had at this club."
According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Biancheri is on his way to Old Trafford.
- Henry Tomlinson
JIM'S BID
Sir Jim Ratcliffe's bid to buy Manchester United is £4billion, reports claim.
That is £1bn less than the £5bn Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani is believed to have tabled for the Red Devils.
Ratcliffe has lodged an offer worth £4bn, according to Foot Mercato.
That falls short of the £6bn the Glazers are thought to be demanding to sell the club.
However, in contrast to Sheikh Jassim's attempt to take full control, Ratcliffe's bid is for "majority ownership" of the club.
- Henry Tomlinson
DOUBLE GLAZING
The Glazer family are in line to make a huge profit when they sell Manchester United.
After purchasing the club in a leveraged buy-out, the Glazer family only put in £150million of their own money in 17 years at the helm, as per Sky Sports – while taking money in dividends.
They now stand to make at least between £4bn-£5bn. And they are even hoping to receive an offer worth £6bn.
This would see them receive a sum worth around 40 times what they spent on the club. The money they receive will also be TAX FREE.
This is because they moved the official club HQ from Old Trafford to the Cayman Islands.
Credit: AFP
- Henry Tomlinson
Who do the fans want?
United LGBTQ+ supporters’ group Rainbow Devils voiced concerns about interest from Qatar, where same-sex relationships are criminalised.
A statement said: "Rainbow Devils believe any bidder must commit to making football a sport for everyone, including LGBTQ+ supporters, players and staff. We therefore have deep concern over some of the bids that are being made."
And United fans told SunSport that Ratcliffe is their preferred owner.
In a vote, 45.75 per cent of fans voted in favour of the Oldham-born billionaire, who has experience in owning a football club, assuming control.
But that was only marginally ahead of the 44.55 per cent of fans who voted for Qatari investors.
3.59 per cent of the vote was in favour of the Glazers staying in charge, while 6.11 per cent of people voting preferred someone other than the previous options.
- Henry Tomlinson
What is their net worth?
Sheikh Jassim is chairman of Qatari bank QIB, which has assets of £42bn.
He is also part of Qatar's ruling royal family.
And his offer will raise questions over potential links with PSG, who are owned by the £370bn Qatari Investment Authority.
Meanwhile, The Sunday Times 'Rich List' in 2022 estimated Ratcliffe's personal fortune at £6.1bn.
And his overall net worth is around £11.3bn, according to Bloomberg.
- Henry Tomlinson
Who are the bidders?
Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani is chairman of one of Qatar’s biggest banks, QIB.
He is also the son of a former prime minister of Qatar and a member of the Gulf state's ruling royal family.
According to the Guardian, he become a United fan in 1992, which is why his foundation is called the Nine Two Foundation, also a reference to the famous Class of '92.
Meanwhile Ratcliffe, 70, is also a Red Devils supporter, and was born in Oldham.
He previously revealed last summer that he was interested in taking over the club.
He is chairman and CEO of chemicals group INEOS, which owns French club Nice, Swiss outfit Lausanne, plus a third of Formula One team Mercedes.
- Henry Tomlinson
Qatar's promises for takeover
Qatar's Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani vowed to return Manchester United to "its former glories" if he buys the club.
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