Topics: Manchester United, Premier League, Qatar, Saudi Arabia
Football journalist Mike Keegan has given an update on the status of the Manchester United bidding process - and on who has submitted offers.
Three bids for the club have already been publicly confirmed, with Qatari investor Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani confirming that his consortium had launched an offer before Friday's deadline.
A bid from boyhood United fan Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos, who also own French side Nice, has also been publicly announced.
Meanwhile, The Times reported on Saturday that US hedge firm Elliott, a former owner of Italian giants AC Milan, had also put an offer forward. They are not looking for a full takeover from the Glazer family, however.
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Now, a significant update his been provided on interest from Saudi Arabia, who had been linked with making a bid for United in the past.
Keegan has claimed on his Twitter account that there is no Saudi-based bid for United.
The Daily Mail writer adds that this is a 'major boost' for the Qatari offer. The two parties could have engaged in a bidding war had they both submitted offers.
It is claimed that Saudi investors explored the possibility of making an offer for the club, but it was deemed 'unpalatable' due to a potential conflict of interest resulting from the Saudi-based takeover of Newcastle.
Interested parties from the state did sign a confidentiality agreement, as per another Daily Mail report, to access the 'data room' - which shows a general picture of the club's finances.
However, their decision not to pursue a bid will surely be a positive for Sheikh Jassim's consortium, with the Mail claiming that those involved in the bid are 'quietly confident' of being successful - although other offers can still be submitted by those interested in the club.
