Featured Image Credit: PA
Topics: Manchester United, Sheikh Jassim, Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Josh Lawless
Sheikh Jassim identified 10 transfer targets to sign for Manchester United when he tried to purchase the 13-time Premier League winners.
When it emerged that the Glazers were "exploring strategic alternatives" for the club back in November 2022, Jassim immediately became one of the leading candidates to buy the Old Trafford outfit.
Jassim was well within the running and reportedly made five bids to buy 100 per cent of United.
He had plans to remove existing debts, as well as renovating both Old Trafford and the Carrington training complex but in the end, Sir Jim Ratcliffe won the race and acquired 27.7% of the club for a £1.25 billion.
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Since taking control of operations, Ratcliffe and INEOS' have enforced a plethora of cost cuts and their overall running of the club has been widely criticised.
Rumours are now circling that Jassim is still interested in buying United - whether it be the entirety of the club or the Glazers' majority stake - if bidding was to reopen.
Had he been successful in the beginning, it was claimed that the Qatari banker was prepared to provided a mammoth transfer budget to the tune of £500 million.
In May 2023, El Pais reported that Jassim picked out 10 transfer targets which he felt could help get United back to their usual level.
At the time, United were heavily linked with England captain Harry Kane but both he and Kim Min Jae, another name on the list, ended up signing for Bayern Munich, where another former United target Kingsley Coman is still playing.
In terms of strikers, Dusan Vlahovic and Victor Osimhen were also on the list. The Juventus star continues to lead the line for the Bianconeri, while Osimhen left Napoli for Galatasaray in a loan move on deadline day in the summer and could still be a target for United.
In midfield, Alexis Mac Allister was briefly mentioned but signed for rivals Liverpool in a £35 million transfer which has been a huge hit.
Adrien Rabiot, seemingly linked United every year, penned a new deal with Juventus before heading back to France with Marseille - while Frenkie de Jong is still plying his trade with Barcelona.
Blaugrana colleague Ronald Araujo also stayed put, though he has been reduced to just eight appearances this season due to injury problems.
Kvicha Kvaratskhelia finally moved on from Napoli in the January transfer window, signing for Paris Saint-Germain in a £59 million switch.