Manchester United are busy working away in the transfer market looking ahead to next season but in the background the club's takeover saga continues to rumble on.
18.06.2023 - 12:25 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Prospective Manchester United owner Sheikh Jassim had a brief period as president of a Qatari club in the early 2000s.
Sheikh Jassim is the frontrunner to take over the Old Trafford outfit and launched a fifth bid for the club last month, understood to be for 100 per cent ownership.
Failsworth-born Sir Jim Ratcliffe, owner of Ineos, remains in the running and has also submitted multiple bids, albeit it’s understood his latest offer is for a majority ownership, potentially allowing the Glazer Family to stay on in some capacity.
The general consensus is that Sheikh Jassim is in pole position with the protracted takeover seemingly edging closer to a conclusion. And it won’t be his first football experience. Sheikh Jassim was involved with Al-Sadd in his homeland at the turn of the century.
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It was a short-lived tenure and the role wasn’t hands on, but during his brief presidential reign the club returned to the top of the table while he also saw profits made on players.
One example was former Portsmouth strike John Utaka, who arrived at the club for a mammoth fee by the Qatari League of around $1.5 million dollars from Ismaily in Egypt. The Nigeria international was sold on for just over double that fee, joining French side Lens.
That approach of selling players for profit was a key part of the Al-Saad business plan under Sheikh Jassim, hinting that he would not spend for the sake of it should he arrive at United.
Martin Lowe, Asian Football Writer for the Asian Game, provided the Manchester Evening News with some more detail on Sheikh Jassim’s background in football in Qatar.
He said: "Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al
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Here are your Manchester United morning headlines for Wednesday, June 28.
Manchester United’s share price dipped to $21.82 on Monday, the lowest in a week, before rebounding again.
Former Manchester United captain Patrice Evra has called on the Glazers to decide on their preferred takeover bidder before the start of the 2023/24 season.
It's been more than seven months since Manchester United owners the Glazers announced plans to 'explore strategic alternatives' for investment, paving the way for a protracted takeover process which still seems some way from completion.
Manchester United supporters' group The 1958 has announced plans to protest against the Glazers amid ongoing frustration regarding a prospective takeover of the club.
Manchester United fans have hijacked an Instagram post of Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani with his family amid the ongoing takeover saga.
The Glazers are still mulling over how the Manchester United takeover process will conclude with Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe awaiting a response.
Manchester United's protracted takeover continues to rumble on and has reached its eighth month following the Glazers' announcement to "explore strategic alternatives for the club" back in November.
The Manchester United takeover saga continues to rumble on with seemingly no end in sight.
Manchester United's takeover saga continues to rumble on as this week with supporters still in the dark about where the ownership situation stands.
Manchester United fans are still patiently waiting for a formal update on the proposed sale of the club.
Manchester United midfielder Fred may feel uneasy at the prospect of Sir Jim Ratcliffe becoming the club's next owner.
It is almost seven months since the Glazer family announced plans to either sell Manchester United or welcome fresh investment. The saga remains ongoing and supporters' patience is beginning to wear increasingly thin.
Brendan Rodgers has already warned Manchester United they could become Sheikh Jassim's "plaything" should his takeover bid for the club should prove successful.
Manchester United's takeover saga continues to be shrouded in confusion following claims Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani has been granted exclusivity in the negotiations to take over.