Manchester United sale: Sheikh Jassim’s £5bn bid might make it the most costly membership on the planet

Manchester United might develop into the most costly sports activities group on the planet, after a Qatari businessman entered a record-breaking provide because the bidding window slammed closed.

Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad, who chairs the Qatar Islamic Bank, submitted his final offer for the club on Friday, Sky News understands, with the determine provided considered round £5bn.

The Qatari is alleged to be looking for 100% possession.

Sheikh Jassim’s provide would make United the most costly sports activities group in historical past by a minimum of £200m, eclipsing the £4.8bn ongoing deal to purchase NFL aspect Washington Commanders, however nonetheless falls quick of the Glazers’ own valuation of the membership at round £6bn.

It would come with a assure of a separate pot of funding to strengthen Erik Ten Hag’s aspect, in addition to creating the infrastructure across the membership when it comes to each the Old Trafford stadium and coaching floor, in addition to the native space.

INEOS proprietor Jim Ratcliffe has additionally submitted his final bid for the club, with Sky Sports News saying the deal would solely get him round 50% of the membership’s shares, which might depart the present house owners Avram and Joel Glazer with a mixed 40% of management.

Leaving the Glazer household with any management of the membership would doubtless anger fan teams, who’ve for a while needed to completely reduce ties with the outgoing house owners.

The Florida-based Elliott funding fund’s deliberate bid for a minority stake within the membership has but to be confirmed, together with some other excellent presents made late within the day.

The ultimate spherical of bidding strikes the membership a step nearer to ending the five-month saga because the Glazers first introduced they have been contemplating promoting United in November 2022.

“People close to the Sheikh have been telling me they’re convinced this is the best bid,” defined chief Sky Sports News reporter Kaveh Solhekol.

“They assume there’s not one which comes near this. It’s for 100% of the membership, it is debt free, and cash will probably be made obtainable not simply to Erik Ten Hag, but additionally for bettering the infrastructure across the membership; doing the sort of factor Man City have achieved in Manchester.

Read extra on the Man United takeover:
Who are contenders to buy Man Utd?
Manchester United sale: Eight bids could be made as Wednesday deadline looms

Over the approaching days the Glazer household and Raine Group, who helped to finish Chelsea’s sale to American billionaire Todd Boehly final 12 months, are anticipated to think about the bids on the desk and which, if any, to just accept.

United followers have been at odds with the Glazers way back to 2005, after they bought the membership and plunged it into debt.

A protest is deliberate by a fan group generally known as the 1958 at Sunday’s sport in opposition to Aston Villa, the place supporters will march via Manchester and boycott 18 minutes of the sport.

“We boycott the game for 18 minutes,” the 1958 mentioned. “One minute for each year the Glazers have driven our club into the ground.”