The potential sale of Manchester United has gone to a third round of bidding. Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim and Ineos owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe both submitted a second bid to buy the Old Trafford club last month, with Finnish entrepreneur Thomas Zilliacus also saying he had submitted a bid.
The Glazer family, who bought the club for £790m in 2005, announced they were considering selling in November. The Americans have established a valuation of £5bn-6bn for United. The second stage ended last month with uncertainty over whether the process had reached the point of exclusivity being granted. It is understood the Glazer family, who said they were considering selling to “explore strategic alternatives”, have now opted to extend the process.
This means potential purchasers, either of the whole club or just a partial stake – an option believed to be appealing to bidders from Elliott Investments – must put more offers forward in the hope of concluding a deal. It had been initially hoped the process being run by the Raine Group would be completed by the end of the season, but the additional time for new bids means that is now unlikely to happen.
