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Topics: Manchester United, Premier League
Ryan Smart
Topics: Manchester United, Premier League
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim have developed concerns surrounding recent Manchester United takeover reports, it has been claimed.
Both Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim - the latter through his Nine Two Foundation - have launched bids for the club, and are among the leading contenders to take control at Old Trafford.
While Ratcliffe's bid is for majority control of United from the Glazers, as per Sky News, Sheikh Jassim reportedly only wants a full takeover.
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The takeover process has been going on for a number of months, with the Glazers announcing back in December that they were exploring 'strategic alternatives' for United.
Since then, several rounds of bids have taken place, with Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim among those to submit their latest offers before the most recent deadline.
Last week, The Sun claimed that Ratcliffe was the Glazers' preferred bidder, and that a further announcement on the takeover process could be made 'within days'.
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That has yet to happen, and both the British billionaire and Sheikh Jassim are said to have developed concerns.
According to the Daily Mail, both camps have expressed their view over the reports that Ratcliffe has been named as the preferred bidder.
Sources close to Ratcliffe's bid claim they have been given no indication of where they currently stand in the process, although are said to be 'comfortable' that their offer is attractive to the Glazer family.
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However, the report adds that sources feel the 'preferred bidder' reports may be part of a 'strategic play' from Raine Group to attract even bigger bids for the club.
Raine, the US merchant bank, are currently leading negotiations over a sale on behalf of the Glazers.
The exact value of both parties' bids are unclear, although 90min reported that Ratcliffe's proposal technically values the club at a higher amount than the offer presented by Sheikh Jassim.
The Qatari businessman is said to have offered a world-record bid for a sports team to complete a full takeover of United.