Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al Thani of Qatar has submitted an improved bid to buy Manchester United, thought to be around £5.5billion.
As before, his latest offer includes a promise to clear all of United's debt and includes a separate fund directed solely for the club and the surrounding community, sources confirmed to the MEN.
There has been growing confidence behind Sir Jim Ratcliffe's bid in recent weeks, but Sheikh Jassim remains committed to taking control of the club from the Glazers, who supporters have regularly protested against.
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Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim submitted their supposedly final bids last month but the Qatari bid has been improved at the eleventh hour.
Sheikh Jassim was the first prospective owner to publicly confirm a bid during the first round back in February and he was soon joined by Ratcliffe, Britain's richest man and Manchester-born owner of chemical company INEOS.
February's soft deadline was followed by a second deadline in March for those that progressed and the Raine Group, who have been brought in to oversee the sale, then asked interested parties for their third and final bid on April 28.
United fans have made clear their desire for a full buy-out from the Glazers, who became majority shareholders in 2005.
Around 10,000 fans marched against the Glazers before the Liverpool game at Old Trafford in August and another protest against the American family was organised just three weeks ago ahead of United's match against Aston Villa.
The Glazers announced in November they exploring 'strategic alternatives' for the club, which could include selling it.
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