Bids not received
Second offers from both Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani had not been received by merchant bank the Raine Group by Wednesday's supposed 9pm deadline, according to reports.
The club set a deadline for second offers to be sent to the Raine Group as they enter the next stage of bidding, with the two long-time frontrunners Sheikh Jassim and Ratcliffe expected to submit their improved offers in line with that deadline.
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However, according to widespread reports, neither offer had been received by the Raine Group in New York, with delegates of both Sheikh Jassim and Ratcliffe requesting an extension. The merchant bank are said to be willing to accommodate the pair.
Glazer concern
Elsewhere, the Daily Mail reports growing concern that the Glazers may opt out of a full sale of United, instead offloading a minority stake for investment.
The timing of said bids notwithstanding, both Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim are expected to table improved offers from the reported £4.5billion ballpark of their initial bids. And although neither can detail the true amounts due to non-disclosure agreements, the report suggests it will be around £5billion.
But that is still some way short of the Glazers' £6billion valuation, which combined with the recent successes and a surge in the club's share price, could convince the American family to retain a controlling share. The report adds that a perceived lack of genuine competition to Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim will do little to drive up the price.
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