Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani confirmed shortly after 8pm on Friday evening that he had submitted a Manchester United takeover bid.
Just under two hours before the Raine Group's 10pm 'soft deadline' for interested parties to submit their offers, Al Thani, who has claimed he is a lifelong United supporter, issued a statement to confirm that he had tabled a bid. His main competitor is set to come in the form of British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is also said to have lodged an official offer ahead of the cut-off point.
Though some United supporters are only interested in seeing the Glazer family relinquish control of the club, plenty of others have reservations about the idea of the club being owned by a member of the Qatari royal family. Human rights issues in Qatar have been well documented as a concern for many - and understandably so.
READ MORE: Who is Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani? Qatari banker behind United offer
But with more and more investors from Gulf states laying their hands on some of Europe's biggest clubs, it's certainly not out of the question that Al Thani could win the battle. You cannot deny that he has not hit the right notes in his statement confirming his bid, vowing to invest in the club's infrastructure and that his offer is debt free, but any prospective owner at any club in the world, however big or small, can always produce an opening statement with words that supporters want to hear.
Should Al Thani gain full control of United and put his money where his mouth is, investing large sums of money into just about every corner of the club, not least the first-team squad, the prospect of Erik ten Hag receiving sufficient financial backing in the transfer market is an exciting one.
Thursday night's 2-2 draw with Barcelona at the Nou Camp saw the Reds produce an outstanding team performance, despite being without a whole host of key individuals, including summer signings Lisandro Martinez, Christian Eriksen and Antony, and go stride for stride with the Spanish giants in football's greatest cathedral.
As good as it was, it was another reminder of just how good United could become in years to come if Ten Hag is given the necessary tools to work with. As progressive and as encouraging as this season has been, United's squad depth and quality in reserve remains an issue. Powered by Al Thani's investment, it could be a problem easily resolved, enabling Ten Hag to take the club to even greater heights.
It means Ten Hag's admission on the takeover speculation, made only last week, carries even greater substance. He admitted that he is confident he can take the club up through the gears, provided that he is backed to compete with the game's biggest spenders.
"We want to restore Manchester United, we need top players but also double (in) the position because we want to act in so many leagues, so many competitions," Ten Hag admitted. "We have certain positions we have a lack of quality and that can't be, if you want to compete for the highest."
Ten Hag added: "I'm here to manage the team, to get the best out of them, and of course I have a job in bringing the right players in. Of course I have to be in debate with the management of the club, the board of the club, and we have a lot of communication about that. But I’m not here for the finance, I’m here to achieve the sporting aims and goals.
"I'm planning, I always go for the highest, so we go for the best, the best we can get, but also we have plan B."
United, this forthcoming summer, regardless of who is in charge of the finances, already have grand ambitions to strengthen the squad. They want to sign a world-class striker as a top priority, as well as a younger and more dynamic midfielder.
If United manage to tick both of those boxes, Ten Hag might just have all the tools he needs to take the club back to the top.
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