Will it be Sir Jim? What about this eleventh hour Qatari bid?
The truth is no one really knows until it’s officially announced and rubber stamped.
Most supporters have an eye on the fast-approaching summer window though, of which the ownership has a huge impact.
The stories and leaks from across Europe have already started and the ‘ITK’ Twitter accounts are dusting themselves down and preparing for another action packed ride on the huge wave that is otherwise known as social media transfer nonsense.
Pick our platform and choose your horse.
The well-run clubs will already have their plans in place, and no doubt in some cases, negotiations with potential summer arrivals will have already started.
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Manchester United as we know under the Glazer ownership simply haven’t been run properly on or off the pitch, and there’s an anxious wait for manager Erik ten Hag between now and the summer – as we wait to find out who the new owners are.
If ten Hag is to build on this season, then it’s essential he is given everything he needs during the summer window.
Twelve months ago he made a solid start to his rebuild but United have wilted since the Carabao Cup success against Newcastle in February, and are limping over the Champions League line in the Premier League.
Sadly, the only way to get near City in the coming years – certainly while Pep Guardiola remains in charge – is to spend significant amounts on top quality players.
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Does that mean that the only sensible option when it comes to ownership is the Qatari group then? More on this shortly.
Ten Hag mentioned at the weekend that he has provided the club with a list of what he feels are the very best players for Manchester United.
However, whether he gets players from list A,B or C, depends on who the new owners are.
It’s why it’s so difficult to predict what the future might hold for loan signings Wout Weghorst and Marcel Sabitzer. Both arrived in Manchester back in January, and if we are being completely honest, have probably flattered to deceive.
If United are to get anywhere near City in the coming years, then neither should be considered as a permanent option beyond this summer.
So yes, those that are suggesting United’s standards should be so much higher than Sabitzer and Weghorst are right, but if the ownership doesn’t go the way of the Qatari’s then can Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS guide United back to Europe’s top transfer table and more importantly, do they have the funds to compete for and sign the best players?
Sabitzer and Weghorst’s future will tell us plenty about the direction this ‘new’ United are heading. I hope we wave them off, thank them for their service and chase/secure other elite options.
As United supporters will tell you, at Old Trafford nothing is ever that easy.
Follow Tom McDermott on Twitter @MrTomMcDermott
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
