Man United for sale: Latest news, updates as Glazers consider Sheikh Jassim, Ratcliffe bids to buy club

The future of Manchester United remains on uncertain ground in 2023 after the Glazer family outlined their interest in selling the club — or, at least, bringing in investment.

The US-based investors have endured a controversial relationship with United fans since taking charge at Old Trafford in 2005 and confirmed in November that they were exploring the possibility of a sale.

Despite an initial spark of speculation over what could happen next with the Glazers' ownership of United, potential buyers were initially slow to register a consistent public interest, aside from in January 2023 when Sir Jim Ratcliffe announced his plans to make a bid.

That changed in early February, when it emerged that investors from Qatar were prepared to lodge a formal bid in the coming days and that the potential buyers were confident they would be successful. Businessman Thomas Zilliacus also claimed still to be in the running prior to the Glazers' latest deadline for revised bids.

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More recent speculation has indicated the owners may in fact seek to retain control of the club and wait for its value to increase, with certain US investment groups eager to buy a minority stake.

That put Ratcliffe in the lead as his offer was not for 100 per cent of the club, which was said to appeal to the current owners, but there has been a late move from Sheikh Jassim to try to outbid his rivals.

 Who is buying Manchester United?

Widespread reports on October 14 said that Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani had withdrawn from the bidding process.

Transfer news expert Fabrizio Romano claimed that the final bid had been worth almost double the $3.5 billion market valuation of the club, and said the Sheikh