The next steps in the Manchester United sale process are reportedly expected to be communicated by Raine at some stage this week.
It is approaching a fortnight since the extended Friday, March 24, deadline for official offers to be made. Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani's Nine Two Foundation, INEOS led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Thomas Zilliacus' XXI Century Capital all made bids last month.
American hedge fund Elliott are another interested party in the market for a minority stake. Here are the latest United takeover headlines:
READ MORE: Sheikh Jassim wants 'marquee names' amid Glazers 'credit card' claim
Sheikh Jassim 'concerns flagged'
Senior UK government officials are reportedly flagging concerns about Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, Bloomberg reports. The American media company claims the past few weeks have seen reservations voiced about historic regulatory failings from the UK subsidiary of the Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) that Sheikh Jassim chaired at the time and still does. The UK unit of QIB was fined almost £1.4 million by the Bank of England in 2016 for significant failings in assessing, maintaining and reporting to the regulator on its financial resources dating back to 2011 and 2012. Bloomberg reports that there is no suggestion at this stage of any government intervention to block the Nine Two Foundation's bid.
Raine response hoped for
Bidders hope they will receive a response from Raine Group about their official offers this week with further clarity about the next steps in the process, the Guardian reports. Despite a week of radio silence, the sale process is still apparently on track despite Raine extending the last deadline in late March. It is, though, claimed there is a fear from at least one bidder that the banking crisis could see the Glazer family choose not to sell and stay as owners, citing it prevented bidders meeting their demands.
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