MANCHESTER UNITED will invite potential bidders to MORE talks in the coming days – and insist a sale IS still possible.
Doubts over the Glazer family’s true intentions have been raised after their bankers Raine Group have opted for radio silence for almost a fortnight.
AFPThe Glazers could still sell Manchester United despite fan concerns they are looking to stay[/caption]
PASir Jim Ratcliffe is one of the bidders for the club[/caption]
Sheikh Jassim has also made an offer to buy the club
Both Qatari Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos have been left in the dark by the lack of contact since they submitted world record £5bn bids over the final weekend of last month.
That has led to growing concerns that the Glazers might be more minded to accept the offer of US hedge fund Elliott Management for a “small amount of common equity” that could see the club’s commercial and merchandising division hived off into a separate company.
But the Glazers now want to discover how serious the main bidders actually are about coming close to their £6bn valuation, by inviting them for a further conversation.
It appears the Glazers and Raine are looking to give Ineos and Sheikh Jassim a final chance to up their bids to a level where the deal cannot be turned down.
However, if an offer at the right level is not made, the sale could be scuppered.
The family said to be “open-minded” about their options.
It is understood that club co-chairman Joel and Avram Glazer are keener to stay on at the club and would settle for a minority share sale or offer of investment.
However, the other four siblings would prefer to cash in.
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But the latest move could bring a backlash from the bidders.
They have hinted at frustration they feel they might have been “played” by Raine and the Glazers over the four months since the possibility of a sale was publicly announced.