Sir Jim Ratcliffe could team up with another party in an effort to match Manchester United takeover rival Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, it's been claimed.
The British billionaire, 70, remains locked in a battle with Al Thani and up to six other interested parties as they approach Wednesday's 9pm deadline for fresh bids. Ratcliffe, through his petrochemical company, INEOS, and the Qatari banker are both believed to have made initial offers worth around £4.5billion in February, but current owners the Glazer family are holding out for a world-record sale amid their £6bn asking price.
Unlike Al Thani, Ratcliffe personally made the journey to Manchester last Friday to hold detailed talks with United officials and his entourage impressed club chiefs with their sporting expertise. Mirror Football understands that Sheikh Jassim will on Wednesday launch a huge £5.5bn follow-up offer in an attempt to blow his opponent out the water - but Ratcliffe may have a trick up his sleeve.
