Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani submitted a take-it-or-leave-it improved fifth and final offer of no more than £6bn to buy Manchester United this week, with the Qatari banker determined to disengage with the sale process on Friday if it is not accepted.
Sheikh Jassim and his advisers have become frustrated with the drawn‑out process overseen by the Glazers, who put the club on the market in November. The Guardian has been told this has moved him to decide that Friday is the cut‑off point for any further engagement, the implication being that if the bid is not accepted he will walk away. Sources close to Sheikh Jassim describe it as crunch time.
