The Glazer family are threatening to delay a potential sale of Manchester United, it has been claimed.
The Red Devils have been up for sale since November - and two high-profile parties have publicly thrown their hats into the ring. The UK’s richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe has confirmed his intentions to bid, whilst Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani is also interested in completing a total takeover at Old Trafford.
All interested parties are expected to hear back from the facilitators of a sale, the Raine Group, over the coming week but both bids are expected to be rejected with the Glazers holding out for a £6bn price tag. Disagreements among the American family are also putting a deal in severe doubt.
As per The Guardian, each of the six Glazer siblings have their own intentions for the Red Devils - whether that be to cash-in or retain a minority stake which could delay talks. There is, however, agreement that a sale will be pursued on the whole.
It remains to be seen if and how long the Glazers will remain at the helm at Old Trafford. It is suggested that a deal could well run on until the end of the season rather than the Glazer family’s original deadline of next month.
Avram Glazer was in attendance at Wembley Stadium on Sunday as Man United lifted the Carabao Cup under Erik ten Hag. The Dutchman confirmed he got firmly involved in the celebrations and dropped a hint over his stance on the takeover.
He said: "He [Avram Glazer] was really happy for the club, as our owner. He wanted to be part of it. He was in the dressing room, good he was here, showed his intentions.
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"I don't know [about the takeover], I'm not involved in that process, but the way he is here you feel he is committed. But the process, what he wants, that is not for me. I lead this team, others are involved in decisions about ownership."
Man United icon Gary Neville has already suggested that there is currently fear among the Old Trafford faithful that the Americans could eventually end up deciding to stay as owners. "I think what scares Man United fans most is the feeling this Man United ownership are running this process to drive a massive price up,” he said previously.
"To try to somehow establish a level which means two of them can stay in and the rest of the family that want out can be bought out by an American fund who wouldn't mind owning a minority or significant share but not the entirety of the share. That's the biggest concern. The whole emphasis at this moment in time from Man United fans is this has to be the end of the Glazer ownership.”
