Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur could soon face revived competition from Manchester United in the race for Champions League qualification as doubt continues to be cast over the ownership of the Red Devils. With the Glazer family under increasing pressure to sell the club, former United director Michael Knighton has confirmed that he is planning to submit a formal offer for the club.
The 70-year-old's mission to solve the 'crisis' follows great unrest among United fans who continue to protest against the Glazer family amid the debt and money taken out of the club by the family, a reluctance to renovate Old Trafford, several seasons of mediocrity on the pitch and questionable dealings in the transfer market being the final straw.
Knighton, who is said to have come close to buying United in 1989, has confirmed that he and a consortium are working on a bid to try and buy the club. Fresh investment and a desire to awaken the sleeping giant poses a great threat to respective owners Stan Kroenke, Todd Boehly and Joe Lewis.
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Speaking to the Man Utd The Religion, Knighton detailed his motive behind a bid: "We are a club in crisis and we all know the reason why. We have an inept and frankly useless ownership who know little about this game of football.
"Everyone knows that we need new ownership of this football club and that is my aim and those are my objectives. I am making good progress, continuing to talk to the people, I have got some good pledges and good finance.
"We are now working on the offer document. Remember, it is a hostile bid - that simply means that the club isn't officially for sale. But my intention is to present these owners with a legitimate, potent and commercial offer to say: 'You have run out of road, it's time go, because your time is up'."
Knighton, who is said to have a net worth of around £5.8million compared to £3.9billion of the Glazer family, added: "We need to rid our football club of this ownership as they have had their day, time has run out and we have had 17 years of disappointment, really. It is time for them to go."
With revived competition on the cards for Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham, how does Knighton's wealth compare to the trio of leading London clubs. We, football.london, has taken a look...
Kroenke - Arsenal
According to Forbes, Kroenke has a net worth of £8.85billion, making him 195th richest person in the world. The Gunners have had a history of not breaking the bank on recruitment but, since Mikel Arteta has been appointed, times have changed and Arsenal have invested well on new players - especially in the last two summers.
Boehly - Chelsea
Boehly is worth £3.6billion according to Forbes. However, with Clearlake Capital apart of an American-led consortium with the LA Dodgers co-owner, widespread reports claim that the wealth of Chelsea's owners stand at £10.86billion, which would make the Blues the third richest club in the Premier League.
Lewis - Spurs
According to the Sunday Times Rich List, Lewis is worth an eye-watering £4.285billion making him the 43rd richest person in the United Kingdom. As it stands, the respective owners look in good stead compared to Knighton, though it must be said - again - that the former United director is looking to put together a consortium.
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