Qataris urged to buy Premier League rivals if Man Utd takeover fails

The Qatari group fronted by Sheikh Jassim could shift their focus from Manchester United to an entirely different club, should they fail to take over from the Glazers.

The Raine Group, led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe have emerged as the favourite to take over United after allegedly submitting the higher offer - which could reach as much as £6 billion.

Indeed, the Glazers and Ratcliffe are now 'willing to enter final talks with Ratcliffe and his team at Ineos to thrash out the world-record deal', according to The Times.

And the British businessman is already thought to be planning his next steps in charge of Old Trafford, with Joel and Avram Glazer expected to retain a 20% stake in the club.

Meanwhile, the Qatari's third bid was believed to be worth less than £5 billion, severely damaging their hopes of a takeover.

But should they fail to buy United, they could turn their attention to Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, or at least that's the opinion of die-hard United fan and YouTuber Mark Goldbridge.

Speaking to talkSPORT, he suggested that Tottenham would be a sensible alternative for Sheikh Jassim, with the north London club perfectly set up for a sale.

"If Qatar don't get hold of Manchester United, why would you logically not go and buy Spurs?" Goldbridge postulated.

"They've got the stadium, they've got the training facilities. Of course they [Sheikh Jassim] wants Manchester United, but do you think if they miss out they are just going to go, 'we don't want anybody now?'

"Spurs are a package, they've got the infrastructure, they have everything in place. You've just got to buy the squad and get the manager in.

"I would be massively frustrated if I was Spurs, and maybe that's what will happen if United end up with Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Maybe that is what Spurs need," he concluded.

Tottenham will miss out on Champions League football following a dismal season in the Premier League. And with a growing frustration among the fanbase, it could be the perfect opportunity to launch a takeover.

However, much of Sheikh Jassim's campaign to buy Manchester has hinged on his personal allegiance to the club, meaning a an attempt to purchase Tottenham would be quite the U-turn.

Topics: Manchester United, Mark Goldbridge, Football, Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur

Joe Adams

Joe is a Journalist for SPORTbible with a primary focus on football. He has previously covered a number of other sports including boxing, rugby and F1. Wishes he was born left-footed.

@joeadamsjourno