Man Utd takeover

SHEIKH JASSIM could launch a bid to buy Tottenham after withdrawing his Manchester United takeover offer, according to reports.The Qatari has been linked with purchasing a Premier League club since his interest in the Red Devils was first made public.
Sheikh Jassim could try to buy TottenhamCredit: AFP
The Glazers did not want to relinquish majority control of Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty
Sheikh Jassim is understood to have submitted a £5billion offer to purchase United – which he has now withdrawn after months of stalemate.
Rival bidder Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to buy a 25 per cent stake in the club for around £1.4billion.
And Sheikh Jassim could turn his attention to Spurs, report The Mirror.
The Lilywhites had received interest from Paris Saint-Germain owners Qatar Sports Investments (QSI).
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PSG chief Nasser Al-Khelaifi is believed to have played a role in Sheikh Jassim’s proposed United bid, and the pair could link up once again to discuss a move for Tottenham.
Qatar have held a long-term interest in the North London club while Sheikh Jassim has always eyed Spurs as an alternative to United should his bid fail, which it now has.
It is unclear whether Spurs chiefs Daniel Levy and Joe Lewis would entertain offers for the club.
However, they are under pressure from unhappy supporters.
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Meanwhile United senior staff are shocked by the takeover U-turn.
Club employees had been gearing up for a full buy-out of the club this month by Sheikh Jassim.
A number had even been told not to book any annual leave for this month to help see the takeover through.

Meetings were still going on last week to try and rescue the Qatari bid which was for a 100 per cent sale at £5billion
It is understood a number of the six strong Glazer family who are on the club board were happy to sell.
But co-chairman Joel Glazer, who was in control of the process, was the one wanting to either keep a majority shareholding or accept an increased bid of £6bn. More

MANCHESTER UNITED share prices have plummeted after Sheikh Jassim pulled out of the running to buy the club.Sir Jim Ratcliffe is poised to purchase a 25 per cent stake for £1.4billion, leaving the Glazers with majority control.
The Glazers will retain majority control of Manchester UnitedCredit: AFP
Sheikh Jassim has withdrawn his takeover bid
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to buy a 25 per cent stake in the clubCredit: Getty
United’s share price has dropped significantly since Sheikh Jassim pulled out
That news has had a negative impact on United’s stock price, which fell by 22 per cent overnight.
A share in the club is now valued at £13.98 – the lowest level since the Glazers announced they were putting the club up for sale last November.
The price of shares soared upon that announcement as the Qataris emerged as the frontrunners to buy the club.
Since then the cost of stocks has fluctuated amid the ongoing uncertainty of the takeover process, with Sheikh Jassim and Ratcliffe both submitting bids worth £5billion earlier this year.
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The price dipped significantly in August following the news that the Glazers intended to only sell a minority stake in the club.
Last month shares fell by a whopping 21 per cent after the news broke that the Glazers may not sell, with reports claiming the Americans wanted £10bn to sell the club outright.
It is believed the Glazers will look to re-list United for sale in 2025 when they anticipate that “environmental and financial factors may attract more bidders”.
That is bad news for many Red Devils fans who have been calling on the owners to leave the club.
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United fans have already staged multiple protests demanding the Glazers leave – so news of them staying is set to trigger more outrage, leading the club to step up security measures for the Champions League clash with Copenhagen.
United are also at home in the derby with Manchester City the Saturday afterwards and there has been talk among supporter groups of a walkout or potential boycott. More

GARY NEVILLE has outlined his six “non-negotiables” after it emerged that the Glazers have snubbed Sheikh Jassim’s Manchester United takeover offer.The Qatari bid to buy the entire club has collapsed with the Glazer family instead set to sell a 25 per cent minority stake to Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Gary Neville has responded to goings on at Old TraffordCredit: Getty
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to buy 25 per cent of the Red DevilsCredit: PA
INEOS chief Ratcliffe’s bid is set to be given the green light when United bosses meet next week.
Neville, 48, had been a proponent for the Glazers making a full United exit.
In the wake of news that they are set to stick around, – which has left fans calling in one of the ‘”club’s darkest days” – the former full-back posted a lengthy tweet in response.
Outlining his six “non-negotiables”, he wrote: “The news last night of the Qatari withdrawal leaves Manchester United on the brink of a minority investment.
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“Can this really work and what impact will it have on a struggling organisation?
“It’s worth setting out my non-negotiables on a takeover of Manchester United that I made over a year ago.
“1. A new sporting project.
“2. A new or redeveloped Old Trafford.
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Sheikh Jassim has withdrawn his bid
Fans were desperate for a full sale
“3. A New training ground.
“4. Full redevelopment of the surrounding land to create a Manchester United World and amazing fan experience.
“5. Pay off the debt and stop taking dividends until the above is done.”
He then added his sixth in response to events in recent years, continuing: “6. The club requires leadership that is statesmanlike on major issues that enables a fairer, more inclusive and diverse game.
“Leadership that builds a positive environment and culture whilst adhering to the club’s values and principles and one that is willing to make tough decisions to prevent an erosion in the club’s public image.
“How does a minority stakeholder positively impact the club to achieve the above? Can a minority shareholder have any impact on the above. It leaves more questions than answers.
“My preference is and always will be now for a Glazer family full exit. They have overstayed their welcome in Manchester yet seem oblivious to this fact.”
Neville then outlined his 16 questions that he feels fans would like answered by the Glazers.
They included whether any family members will leave the board, who ultimately will possess sporting control, and whether further debt will be placed upon the club.
The pundit also mused whether Old Trafford will finally be modernised following Ratcliffe’s investment.
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Ratcliffe, 70, is set to undergo a 100-day review of Man United when his bid is given the green light.
He is said to be set on implementing a new structure at the club, with a new transfer chief possibly being appointed.
Gary Neville’s 16 questions
1. What does the distribution of funds look like? Is all the cash being taken out of the club?
2. Which Glazers are going or is it a family dilution?
3. How does it impact the NYSE shareholders?
4. Does the executive stay the same?
5. Does the sporting side stay the same above the manager?
6. Who within the board has sporting control?
7. Are there future dilution clauses with the Glazer family in any deal you do as a minority shareholder? When are they?
8. We’re maxed out on the credit card and debt. How is this deal going to change the capital structure and financial issues the club has?
9. Is any further debt being placed on the club?
10. Is any debt being paid off?
11. How does this deal impact the board composition?
12. How does a minority shareholder impact the negative culture within the entire organisation?
13. Old Trafford is tired and is in need of significant redevelopment. How does this deal resolve this issue?
14. Will this deal allow the development of the training ground to its required standard?
15. Old Trafford requires significant investment on its surrounding land. Does this deal impact this requirement positively or does it leave it as a concrete wasteland?
16. How does a minority shareholder stop cultural decline across a whole organisation if the people who have overseen this decline still have a majority shareholding? More

DAVID BECKHAM has given an update that “there will be a takeover” in the ownership of Manchester United.A new frontrunner to buy the Red Devils has emerged as Sir Jim Ratcliffe is said to be ahead of Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani to strike a deal with current owners, the Glazers.
David Beckham has given an update on the takeover of Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty
The Glazers have faced backlash this term from Manchester United fansCredit: AFP
Sheikh Jassim has pledged to buy the club outright
English businessman Sir Jim Ratcliffe has emerged as the new frontrunner to buy the clubCredit: PA
Both Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim have made several approaches to purchase United after the Glazers announced the club was up for sale last November.
But there have been accusations that the unpopular owners have been dragging their heels in negotiations.
Sheikh Jassim has previously revealed he wants to buy the Red Devils outright in a £5billion deal.
The Glazers are said to prefer the sale of a minority interest, however, with Ratcliffe now a frontrunner in the race, according to Bloomberg.
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The English businessman is believed to be in talks to buy an initial 25 per cent stake, which the Glazers are said to be more in favour of.
And United icon Becks has hinted a takeover is fast approaching.
He told American outlet CNBC: “There will be a takeover, it is the right time. We all have our opinions on who should take over.
“But in my opinion, it is about who cares about the club the most and will take the club back to where it should be.
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“Everybody knows I am a Manchester United fan and I have been very vocal about the situation that is happening.
“I grew up there from a young age with a lot of stability with the same manager and the same owners.
“Manchester United will always be one of the biggest clubs in the world.
“We need to get back to that for the fans, the players, the manager because, at the moment, there is no stability. We need to get the talk back on the field, not off it.
“I want to see an ownership group who will take the club back to what it should be.
“I am not saying the past owners have done a bad job but it is the right time for someone else to take over.”
Since the Glazers purchased the team back in 2005, Manchester United fans have regularly voiced their opinions against the American owners.
The Red Devils invested heavily in the summer but have struggled on the pitch in the new term, with Erik ten Hag’s squad currently having the club’s worst start to a season in 37 years.
Man Utd have lost four out of their seven Premier League games this season and currently sit tenth in the table.
Meanwhile, reports hinted Beckham could return to Old Trafford in an ambassadorial role if Sheikh Jassim’s proposal is successful.
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But the England legend denied the claims as he added: “At the moment there has been no discussion. I have had a long-standing relationship with Qatar, because of my involvement with PSG.
“Obviously there will be some connection and people put two and two together.” More

THERE is a new broom sweeping in from the East.Sheikh Jassim is close to completing his Qatari takeover — and for Manchester United fans it cannot come soon enough.
Manchester United players are fed upCredit: Alamy
Gary Neville’s rants have become a regular occurrenceCredit: Getty
Sheikh Jassim is set to complete a £6bn takeover of United
The club needs a new start, totally Glazer free. Let them take their £6billion and relinquish every percentage of control.
United are still not title-winning material, as their opening two Premier League games have clearly shown.
Lucky to beat Wolves 1-0, they were impotent  up   front   in the 2-0 loss to Spurs.
They have had a decent transfer window as Erik ten Hag’s spending nears the £400million mark in just over a year in charge.
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But for United to still not have a decent No 9 at the top of his game available to them is a dereliction of duty.
Ten Hag got the club back on track last season, no doubt about that.
The Carabao Cup triumph, FA Cup final appearance and third place in the Prem undoubtedly provided one of the best seasons in the ten years since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
It was intense from that shaky start, through the revival to the disappointing Cup final defeat to Manchester City at Wembley.
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The players were then off on international duty and before they knew it, on a plane heading off on pre-season jaunts to Oslo, Glasgow,
New York, San Diego, Houston, back to San Diego and then the 104OF heat in Las Vegas, before returning to Old Trafford and a quick trip to Dublin.
By that final US tour match in Vegas last month — a 3-2 defeat to Borussia Dortmund — the players looked fed up.
They returned to Manchester and knew they needed a good start to the season or the whole circus would start again.
It is not merely coincidental that Sky chose the big top imagery for their new season promotions as it is a constant high-wire act at Old Trafford.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said United were the only club whose whole situation is judged from week to week. He is right.
A good win and you will see videos on social media of ‘United under Ten Hag’ with great passing moves.
Talk will be of how they have got the recruitment right at last, how their Carrington HQ is fit for purpose after all and the manager has got the control that no one since Fergie has had.
Lose and they cannot spot a decent player if he knocked on the door, there is a chip in the swimming pool at Carrington and the manager cannot get a tune out of certain players.
Casemiro, meanwhile, who was an inspired £60m buy from Real Madrid last summer, is now apparently too old and slow at 31.
Of course, no other clubs demand such scrutiny with former defender Gary Neville off on one again over the last few days. Club officials have long grown tired of Red Nev’s rants.
They have become repetitive but they raise the shackles of the fanbase.
The Mason Greenwood situation has provided another stick with which to beat the Old Trafford hierarchy.
Although quite what else the club could or should have done has not been fully explained by the critics.
There was a great social media post yesterday from the respected United fan, broadcaster and journalist based in Los Angeles, Pilib De Brun.
He wrote: “Sometimes I just feel like jacking football altogether. All I want to do is watch 11 players kick a ball in a net each week but I’m forced to learn geo-politics, have a financial degree and pass the bar exam just to know what’s going on these days ffs.”
Beat Nottingham Forest at the Theatre of Dreams on Saturday and things will temporarily be put to one side.
The tills will still be ringing at the Megastore.
‘Man United never die’, as the fans sing.
But you  wonder if that “open-heart surgery” caretaker-boss Ralf Rangnick talked about is still on the waiting list?
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Perhaps Sheikh Jassim can operate.
Somebody needs to.
The takeover cannot come soon enough for UnitedCredit: Rex
Erik ten Hag is still in need of a number nineCredit: Alamy More

SHEIKH JASSIM is set to complete his full £6BILLION takeover of Manchester United by mid-October.The Qatari royal has fought off rival bidder British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who was willing to allow the Glazer family to retain a stake in the Red Devils.
Sheikh Jassim is set to complete his £6billion takeover of Manchester United
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been defeated in his attempts to buy the clubCredit: PA
A date is pencilled in and an announcement could come as early as next month.
Sheikh Jassim’s team are now completing their due diligence on the club before they end the 18-year reign of the loathed Glazers.
United fans will rejoice in a 100 per cent sale as they feared the Americans were dragging their heels and would eventually cling on to a slice of the club.
The Glazers wanted to continue holding shares but were warned by senior Old Trafford figures there would be a huge backlash from the fanbase.
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They will make a healthy profit having lumbered United with massive debts when they completed their £800million takeover back in 2005.
The servicing of that debt has since cost United over £1bn.
And their last financial figures showed that the gross debt is £725m — the highest it has been since 2010.
Sheikh Jassim will wipe that out to save on any further fees and not take any dividend payments from the club, like the Glazers did.
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He also plans to upgrade both Old Trafford and the club’s Carrington training ground, while continuing the investment in the team.
The takeover will end a tortuous process that started when the club was put up for sale last November.
It is not all good news for United, though, as midfielder Mason Mount is set to miss their Prem clashes with Nottingham Forest and Arsenal.
The £60m summer signing from Chelsea picked up a “small complaint” during  Saturday’s 2-0 loss at Tottenham.
A club statement revealed he is expected to be “out until the international break next month”.
United’s first match after that is against Brighton at Old Trafford on Saturday, September 16.
Meanwhile, the club are checking on Fenerbahce keeper Altay Bayindir, 25, ahead of a possible move as back-up to new £43.8m No 1 Andre Onana.
The takeover is set to be announced by mid-OctoberCredit: Reuters More