The first deadline for bids to be submitted to buy Manchester United is on Friday, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe the only person to publicly state his interest in buying the club.
Raine, the merchant bank, which dealt with the bidding process to buy Chelsea in 2022, was instructed by the Glazer family to oversee a potential sale.
While stories continue to circulate about who may submit a bid before Friday’s deadline, one interesting dynamic is that United’s board are being kept in the dark and are not receiving updates.
Joel and Avram Glazer are leading the talks — assisted by Raine — on the club’s side, with the process deemed a matter for the family rather than other executives.
United have attracted interest from Qatar, although there is uncertainty as to whether that would be a minority investment or a full takeover.
If Qatar Sports Investment (QSI) — the vehicle used by Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund (QIA) — was to buy United, then a sale of Paris Saint-Germain would need to be actioned. QSI, however, remains committed to PSG.
But with Friday’s deadline looming, Ratcliffe, who was named Britain’s richest person in 2019, is yet to be joined — at least in public — by rival bidders.
Chelsea board firmly behind Potter
Chelsea’s draw at West Ham United on Saturday means Graham Potter’s side have won just two of their last 13 Premier League matches, leaving them ninth in the table and 10 points off the top four.
