Outside Manchester United bidder Thomas Zilliacus has withdrawn from the takeover race.
The Finnish businessman said the potential cost of a purchase “no longer makes sense” with his investment company XXI Century Football Capital now looking at other clubs.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly leading the takeover race, ahead of rival bidder Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani who submitted a fifth bid on Wednesday ahead of his self-imposed Friday deadline.