Speculation is growing that Manchester United's owners the Glazer family could change their minds and refuse to sell the club.
United have now been up for sale for more than eight months, with no end to the takeover process in sight.
Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani has submitted several offers for the Premier League club, with his fifth and final bid believed to be worth around £5bn - with a further £1bn of investment pledged.
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He faces competition from British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who unlike Sheikh Jassim – who is trying to buy 100 per cent of the club – is only looking to take a controlling stake of more than 50 per cent.
Speculation is mounting that the Glazers could choose to keep a controlling stake in United, with Raine - the American banking group which is handling the sale - yet to confirm if a bid has been successful, or even name a preferred bidder.
Four reasons why the Glazers could keep United
The Athletic journalist Matt Slater has now listed four reasons why the Glazers may refuse to sell up.
Firstly, and perhaps most obviously, the Glazers are yet to agree to a sale as 'nobody has hit their asking price'.
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Reports elsewhere have claimed the Americans are seeking £6bn for United, with Sheikh Jassim and Ratcliffe unwilling to match that figure.
It is also claimed that upcoming changes to the Champions League and Club World Cup could convince the Glazers to remain in charge at Old Trafford.
"Now it is 2023, and we are one year closer to a new format for the Champions League in the 2024-25 season, when the Premier League should get an extra place in the competition and participating clubs more games and more money," wrote Slater.
"And at the end of that season, FIFA's new and improved Club World Cup will take place for the first time in the United States, with 12 slots for European teams."
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This leads into the fourth reason why United's owners may be refusing to budge on their asking price, with potential changes in domestic TV rights money on the horizon.
"Apple or one of the other tech giants might be ready to really blow things up with a mega offer for the Premier League's media rights," added Slater.
"Maybe the smart call is to say nothing, pull the curtains and hope we all go away."
Featured Image Credit: Getty & PATopics: Manchester United, Football, Premier League, Sheikh Jassim