Two-and-a-half months after the Glazer family initially announced that they were putting Manchester United on the market, the takeover process is beginning to heat up.
Lifelong United fan Sir Jim Ratcliffe had already publicly confirmed that he would be bidding for the club, but reports on Tuesday night revealed that a group of wealthy Qatari investors are now ready to launch a bid of their own to acquire the club from the Glazers.
According to The Daily Mail, the Qatari group are confident that their package will 'blow the competition out of the water' and are willing to hand Erik ten Hag a substantial transfer war chest to take Manchester United back to the pinnacle of European football.
Additional funds will come as a big boost to the Dutchman, who is already sketching out his future transfer plans. And after losing the services of Cristiano Ronaldo back in November, finding a new No.9 is United's top summer priority.
Tottenham talisman Harry Kane and Napoli forward Victor Osimhen have emerged as two of the club's top targets this week. But neither are likely to come cheap, with Spurs and Napoli both expected to demand in excess of £100million for their respective star strikers.
Such a sum is not expected to be an issue for Manchester United, who kept their powder dry in the January transfer window; especially if a lucrative takeover is finalised in the coming months. And a blockbuster deal for a new striker will spell bad news for Anthony Martial.
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The Frenchman, who is currently sidelined with a hip issue, is a big favourite of current Manchester United co-owner Joel Glazer, who it was once claimed even stepped in to prevent the striker from being sold during Jose Mourinho's tenure.
After being farmed out on loan during the second half of last season, Martial was handed a shock reprieve by Ten Hag following his arrival in the summer. However, injuries have once again plagued the former Monaco man's progress and his impact on the first team has been minimal.
The Manchester Evening News claimed earlier this week that, with a takeover on the horizon, Martial is among a group of players who could be offloaded at the end of the current campaign. Any move would see Martial's eight-year association with the club come to an abrupt end.
Given Martial's chequered injury history and the calibre of some of the strikers Manchester United are targeting, it appears as though a summer move is inevitable. And with the Glazers no longer set to be in the picture, it is highly unlikely that Martial will be given another unexpected Old Trafford lifeline by Ten Hag.
