Man Utd takeover ‘will happen’ as Sheikh Jassim backed to pay another £2bn to seal sale
It appears that a Manchester United takeover by either Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani or Sir Jim Ratcliffe is inevitable, according to a prominent figure in the Premier League.
The Qatari royal, in particular, is expected to eventually agree to the Glazers’ financial demands and increase his offer to secure full ownership of the club.
For the past 11 months, Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim have been the leading contenders since the Glazers initiated a strategic review in November.
Despite interest from US hedge funds for a minority stake, the club’s owners have yet to make a decision.
Reportedly, Sheikh Jassim has put forth an offer of approximately £5 billion for a complete buyout and has promised significant investment in all aspects of Manchester United.
In contrast, Sir Jim initially aimed to acquire the Glazers’ 67 percent stake but has since adjusted his bid to purchase 25 percent for £1.5 billion.
This proposal would allow the Glazers to retain control initially, potentially leading to a gradual transition with Sir Jim eventually taking over. However, it seems that the Glazers have rejected this offer thus far.
Jon Smith predicts Man United will be taken over by Sheikh Jassim
Jon Smith, a prominent football agent known for his role in establishing the Premier League in 1992, recently shared insights (Via Caught Offside) into the United takeover and suggested that the Glazers might be stalling in the hopes that Sheikh Jassim will eventually agree to meet their desired price.
In Smith’s view,
“To be honest here, I’m not inside this deal, but I know quite a few of the funds who are close to the two bidders,”
Smith explained.
He further added saying,
“It would appear vaguely intelligent for the Glazers to have looked again at the Gulf and said there’s a bigger game here, and we don’t want to sell ourselves short.
They’ve got arguably the biggest entity on planet football, and if the Qataris are going to pay £5bn, maybe they’ll pay £10bn. Maybe it’s just a number, and they’ll settle on seven.
These deals are notoriously complicated, and this is the biggest one of them all. I’m just of the belief that it’s a very heavy negotiation, and it’s ultimately all about the money, obviously, but also about the timing.
I think the takeover is going to complete in some shape or form. It’s just a question of when.”
Said Smith.
Sheikh Jassim has reportedly expressed his willingness to walk away from the negotiation table if the Glazers do not compromise on their demand of over £6 billion to relinquish control of Manchester United.
Nevertheless, given his substantial financial resources, it’s uncertain whether an improved offer can be ruled out until he decides to withdraw from the process.
