14 August 2023 , 08:34
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Nearly nine months have passed since the Glazer family said they were open to offers for Manchester United, and the sale finally looks on the verge of completion.
Bids from Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and Sir Jim Ratcliffe have remained on the table as the owners prepare to reach a decision on the future of the Premier League club. Now, after a long and drawn-out process, it is being claimed that the Qatari bid is set to be announced as the winner.
Not only that, but the price is tipped to reach a huge £7.2-7.3bn, even higher than the world record sums anticipated earlier in the process. That figure comes not from United themselves but rather from Cardiff City chairman Mehmet Dalman, who has spoken about the rising cost of football clubs in the Premier League and beyond.
"I've been meeting a lot with US private equity funds and the valuation of football clubs is going through the roof," Dalman told The BBC. "Americans are determined to come into this market quite heavily..
"I spoke to the owners of Leeds when we were there, and Championship clubs are valued at three times their revenue, give or take. Manchester United are going to announce their sale at £7.2bn-7.3bn, which is roughly 10 times their revenue.
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"Two or three years ago, we might have been talking about selling Cardiff for about £20m or £30m but now you're going to have to look at £90m or £100m. Valuations [of Championship clubs] have all stretched. In terms of the money burned, you have a better chance of getting it back in this environment than you ever have before."
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Earlier reports suggested Sheikh Jassim has made a breakthrough in his efforts to take over Manchester UnitedEarlier in August, The Sun reported Sheikh Jassim had made a breakthrough and was set to win the race. Their reports carried a figure of £6bn, though, rather than the significantly higher number mentioned by Dalman.
The Glazer family have owned Manchester United since 2005, having first taken a stake in the club in the years before that. However, their ownership has proved unpopular with sections of the fanbase who have embarked on a number of protests.
It had been believed the major sticking point over the current sale process was a difference of opinion between different members of the family. Brothers Joel and Avram are the more active of the siblings when it comes to Manchester United, and reports suggested they weren't ready to relinquish their share entirely.
Despite the takeover uncertainty looming all summer, United have still been able to add to their squad. Erik ten Hag has added more than £150m worth of new talent to his ranks in the form of Andre Onana, Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund.
Onana and Mount are in line for competitive debuts on Monday, when United host Wolves in the Premier League. Hojlund, however, will have to wait a little longer as he continues his recovery from an injury sustained in pre-season.
"We know without him we have also a strong team and the position is covered so we don't rush in this," Ten Hag said of the Dane. "It is about that he is in the right level, the first fitness level and then we have to integrate him, training and bring him in for the games so we take our time."