Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani will make his second bid for Manchester United on Wednesday evening, Sky Sports reported.
According to US sources, talks between Sheikh Jassim’s Qatari delegation and United executives last Thursday in Manchester were fruitful.
A Qatari delegation traveled to Manchester from London where they held talks for over 10 hours.
Qatar is expected to significantly increase its offer for Manchester United this week.
“They will try to pay the right price,” one source says, “but they are adamant they won’t overpay.”
Early March, Sky Sports News reported that Sheikh Jassim remains determined to buy United from the Glazers.
Britain’s richest man Jim Ratcliffe is also still determined to purchase Manchester United and is fully committed to his bid.
Both of the top bidders are willing to pay a premium to own a trophy asset like United, but their initial indicative offers have fallen short of the Glazer family’s reported £6 billion ($7.28 billion) asking price for the club.
Second bid anticipated from Ratcliffe
After visiting the club last Friday, British Ratcliffe is expected to make a second offer for Manchester United next week.
Ratcliffe flew in from Nice last Thursday and visited United’s management team at Old Trafford on Friday, alongside INEOS sports representatives from Ratcliffe’s petrochemical firm.
Read more: Will Qatar be able to bid for Manchester United?
1.1 billion fan base
According to soccer finance experts, If Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani’s bid to buy Manchester United succeeds, he could capitalize on nearly all of the soccer club’s global fan base of 1.1 billion people, including its followers in the Middle East.
Al Thani, the chairman of Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), is reported to be offering a 100% takeover of the team with no debt financing and a pledge to invest in infrastructure like training facilities, the stadium, and redevelopment near Old Trafford.
However, it is alleged that Ratcliffe plans to use debt to purchase the 69% stake in the soccer team owned by the Glazers.
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