A major announcement in the Manchester United takeover process could be made within the next 48 hours, according to a new report.
There have been few developments since Sheikh Jassim, through his Nine Two Foundation, submitted an improved fourth bid last Tuesday in his attempts to complete a full takeover of United from the Glazer family.
His main rival in the takeover process appears to be the joint proposal from Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS, with the British billionaire attempting to gain majority control of his boyhood club.
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As per Sky News, Ratcliffe's bid contains a 'Glazer buyout clause' - a put-and-call option which would force the Glazers to sell their remaining shares in 2026 after the option were to be triggered.
After their third bids, it was reported by The Independent that Ratcliffe's offer technically valued United at a higher figure than Sheikh Jassim's proposal, although exact monetary figures around either bid were not released.
According to Ben Jacobs, Sheikh Jassim's fourth and latest offer is to the value of £5.6 billion, inclusive of proposed investment into Old Trafford and the local community. If accepted, it would be a world-record fee for a sports team.
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Now, a new report suggests the takeover process may be edging closer to its conclusion.
Man Utd takeover development 'anticipated'
According to The Independent's Miguel Delaney, bidders are 'hopeful' that an announcement over a preferred bidder will be made as early as Friday - in the next 48 hours.
It is claimed that there is 'cautious optimism' among the INEOS/Ratcliffe bid due to the 'nature of the deal they put together'.
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Furthermore, Sheikh Jassim's latest offer reportedly did not 'blow Sir Jim Ratcliffe out of the water' - but it is considered to be competitive against the Ratcliffe proposal.
It is hoped that a deal will be completed by the time the summer window opens. At this stage, the takeover process is having an impact due to concern that the club may need to sell in order to buy their key targets, according to David Ornstein of The Athletic.
And the same outlet reported earlier this month that United's transfer budget stands at around £100 million due to Financial Fair Play restrictions - which is set to be the same even if Sheikh Jassim's Nine Two Foundation took over and cleared the club's debt.
Featured Image Credit: Alamy / PATopics: Manchester United, Premier League