According to sources, Manchester United fans should not count out Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al Thani making a sixth offer to acquire the club from the Glazer family. And the Qatari businessman’s prior acts imply that the unpopular United owners know what they’re doing when it comes to the takeover process.
Over 10 months ago, the Glazers announced a strategic review that included a potential sale after 18 years at the summit of the Old Trafford hierarchy.
Sheikh Jassim has battled Sir Jim Ratcliffe to take control at United, but the Glazers have held firm on their inflated £6billion valuation.
Both parties’ final offers were reportedly worth around £5bn, leaving a significant gap between the proposals and the asking price.
But Sheikh Jassim twice increased his bid after allegedly handing the Glazers a take-it-or-leave-it offer to remain competitive with Ratcliffe.
And there is optimism among some fans that he would cave in to obstinate sellers and give up the cash required to assume control in M16 and usher in a new era.
Sheikh Jassim’s past two U-turns, according to writer Ben Jacobs, auger well for the Glazers and allies looking for a sixth, better proposal.
“I still don’t think that we can rule out another bid from, in particular, Skeikh Jassim,” Jacobs told GiveMeSport.
Simply because we were told after the last bid deadline in April, despite the fact that it was only a soft deadline, that it was the final offer.
“Then we were told that after the fourth bid, that would be the last offer, and then we were told that after the fifth bid, that would be the last offer.”
“In this type of takeover, you can never rule out another offer because the situation is public and fluid in many ways.”
“And, ultimately, if Sheikh Jassim wants Manchester United, he may have to pay whatever it takes, or at least get close to that £6 billion figure.”