According to Jamie Jackson of The Guardian, Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani will not give up his interest in acquiring Manchester United even if the deadline passes today.
The Qatar Islamic Bank chairman recently submitted a fifth bid to the Glazer family.
Initially, it was reported that Friday marked the end of any negotiations and Sheikh Jassim would withdraw his bid if it was not accepted. However, new information suggests that this is no longer the case.
Despite experiencing frustration during the talks that have been ongoing since November, Sheikh Jassim understands that it would be unwise to walk away at this stage.
It remains uncertain whether he plans to make another bid, but Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a British billionaire, will be monitoring the situation closely.
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If the Qataris decide to step back, it could provide Ratcliffe with a significant advantage in potentially acquiring Man United.
The owner of OGC Nice is seeking to acquire approximately 51% of United’s shares. Meanwhile, Ratcliffe is willing to allow one or more of the Glazer family members to retain a minority stake in the club.
If Sheikh Jassim exits the bidding process, Ratcliffe will have an exclusive opportunity to negotiate with the club.
The Glazer family still holds firm on their £6 billion valuation for the club, but none of the interested parties has met this demand thus far. Sheikh Jassim’s latest bid includes a substantial investment in infrastructure and player recruitment.
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The Glazers are not feeling pressured to respond quickly to the bidders, but an update on the situation is anticipated soon.
The uncertainty surrounding the ownership situation is already impacting the club’s plans for the summer transfer window, and manager Erik Ten Hag would prefer a swift resolution to the matter.
