As many as eight groups are claimed to be involved in Manchester United's takeover process - and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani has been labelled the frontrunner.
The club have been up for sale since November and despite fears that owners the Glazer family are split on whether to sanction a full sale or seek minority investment, a deal is still on track to be completed before the end of April. That's according to the Daily Telegraph, which adds that alongside Sheikh Jassim and fellow would-be owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a number of groups - such as US hedge fund Elliott Management - remain in talks with United.
Manchester-born billionaire Ratcliffe, found of chemical giants INEOS, and representatives for Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim are set to sit down with Old Trafford officials this week to continue the second stage of a sale process, having each made bids in February. While other groups are also interested in a full takeover and have pencilled in meetings, some are instead looking at alternative options such as financing a takeover, just as Elliott allegedly plan to.
