Manchester United have been handed an ultimatum by Sheikh Jassim in the latest twist in the protracted sale of the Premier League club.
An improved fifth bid for United has been submitted which is understood to be a take-it-or-leave-it offer.
The club have been given until Friday to accept the deal of the Qatari bidders have signalled their intention to walk away.
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The club announced in November that the board was exploring strategic alternatives to enhance the club’s growth, with a full sale one option being considered.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim both publicly confirmed initial offers in February and the latter is understood to have this week made a fifth bid to acquire United.
The offer remains for 100% of the club and those involved in Sheikh Jassim’s bid have indicated this will be the final bid.
Current owners, the Glazer family, are said to value United at £6billion and the Raine Group was brought in to oversee the process.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim both publicly confirmed initial offers after the February 17 soft deadline for expressions of interest, then another by the second deadline of March 22.
That was eventually extended by a few days and Raine asked interested parties for their third and final bids on April 28.
Talk has increased over the subsequent 40 days that Ratcliffe and INEOS have emerged as favourites to take over at United, despite Sheikh Jassim placing a fourth bid last month.
In March, BusinessLive reported that losses widened at Manchester United during the first half of their financial year as revenue growth stalled.
The figures revealed the club's losses totalled £20.2m in the six months to December 31, 2022, compared to losses of £16.9m in the same period in 2021.
United's total revenue also dipped slightly from £311.9m to £311m over the same time.
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