MANCHESTER UNITED are once again being linked with a takeover as rumours swirl over a mystery bid.
Saudi boxing chief .
The Glazer family and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s resolve may be tested by a takeover bid at Manchester United
Turki Alalshikh suggested a deal was close to being done but refused to reveal who the mystery bidder is
Alalshikh suggested a new investor is hoping to buy out the Glazer family and Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
He wrote: “The best news I heard today is that is now in an advanced stage of completing a deal to sell to a new investor.
“I hope he’s better than the previous owners.”
and insisted they were unsure what they were based on.
But on X.
He added: “My yesterday’s post about Manchester United’s potential sale meant one thing: the club is in an advanced negotiation phase with a new investor.
“Just to clarify, I am not the investor, nor are they from my nation. I’m posting this as a fan who wishes the deal to happen, though it might not necessarily happen.”
Majority owners the Glazer family from Sheikh Jassim At Thani’s Qatar-based consortium almost two years ago.
Instead they accepted Ratcliffe’s £1.25billion offer for a 27.7 per cent stake in the club – which was finalised early last year.
But with United now valued at around £5.2bn, who are the possible candidates hoping to land a mega deal to buy the Old Trafford club?
SAUDI ARABIA
One possible option is a bid from the Saudis and Alalshikh himself.
This would be separate from the Public Investment Fund which bought Newcastle in 2021.
Alalshikh is chairman of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation, who have hosted various big boxing fights in Saudi Arabia.
And after , could Alalshikh make the step up to try and buy his beloved United?
QATAR
Alalshikh, though, insisted he was not the alleged mystery bidder – and that they do not come from his country.
That could, therefore, mean the bidder is from neighbouring Qatari investors.
Although SunSport understands it would not be from the Qatari Sports Investment government-funded organisation which owns Paris Saint-Germain.
BROOKLYN EARICK / DAN GILBERT
enquired into a shock takeover of Tottenham as part of a US consortium.
The DJ was understood to be backed by Dan Gilbert, the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers NBA franchise who has an estimated fortune of £20bn.
And the pair could combine again to launch another bid for a Premier League powerhouse.
But after , it is unlikely the consortium would have enough to convince the Glazers to sell.
Brooklyn Earick recently made an attempt to lead a consortium purchase of Tottenham
STEPHEN ROSS
Stephen Ross made his money in real estate through his Related Companies which he founded in 1972.
The multi-billionaire first bought 50 per cent of the Miami Dolphins in 2008 then took his stake to 95 per cent the following year.
And after moving into F1 to bring the Miami Grand Prix to the Hard Rock Stadium complex, could he be ready to step into football across the pond?
Stephen Ross owns the Miami Dolphins
STEVE BALLMER
Steve Ballmer was CEO of Microsoft for 14 years, replacing Bill Gates in the role in 2000, and was estimated earlier this year by Bloomberg to be the eighth-richest person in the world with a personal wealth of £114bn.
He founded his Ballmer Group investment company in 2015 to manage his staggering finances.
The year before, he completed a $2bn [£1.2bn] takeover of NBA franchise the Los Angeles Clippers – the second-biggest sports purchase ever at the time behind the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.
Steve Ballmer made his money at Microsoft and used it to buy the Los Angeles Clippers
MSP SPORTS CAPITAL
MSP Sports Capital, spearheaded by successful agent, businessman and investor Jeff Moorad, was founded in 2019.
They have already bought football clubs in Portugal and Spain – as well as a “significant” stake in the McLaren F1 team and the X Games.
and Tottenham.
But while neither came to fruition, they could try their luck with one of the biggest clubs in the world at Old Trafford.
Jeff Moorad co-founded MSP Sports Capital who have invested in the McLaren F1 team
