Sheikh Jassim bid reaction as Qatari bidder tipped to ‘walk away’

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Sheikh Jassim has submitted a new bid for Manchester United, is there more to it than meets the eye?

The Mail report Sheikh Jassim has submitted a fifth takeover offer for Manchester United.

This one is a little different. It is said to be laid out in clear terms that this will be his final offer, and that after this Friday, he will no longer negotiate, amid growing impatience with the Glazers.

The final deadline was supposed to be at the end of April. This is Jassim’s second offer since the deadline.

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Sheikh Jassim could walk away

The latest bid shows Sheikh Jassim’s desire to win the battle for Manchester United. However, there is also another way to look at it.

This process has dragged on for months, and now imposing his own deadline, gives him a reason to walk away.

Matt Lawton of The Times reports: “Sheikh Jassim will withdraw from the process if his fifth and final offer for Manchester United is not accepted by Friday.

“That reads to me like they fear Ratcliffe/Ineos have won and they’re walking away on their own terms. That said, nothing is signed yet.”

CBS Sports Ben Jacobs reports: “On the one hand, the fifth bid by Nine Two Foundation can be seen as a power move.

“But, as reported, if Sheikh Jassim feels he won’t be successful sources indicate he’ll also want to exit on his own terms rather than being ‘rejected’.”

He also adds that the Qatari bidder is determined to win the takeover battle, adding: “Nine Two Foundation sources point out that their offer is at an “enormous premium” on the current share price.”

However, clearly, this deadline does give him an ‘out’, if the Glazers and the Raine Group do not engage.

Sheikh Jassim’s bid is for 100 per cent of Manchester United plus £1 billion in investment.

However, as The Times points out: “Not that future investment is of any concern to the Glazers if they no longer have a stake in a club they have owned since 2003.”

BBC Sport’s Simon Stone comments: “Obviously there are other views on this but SJ team regard their offer – for 100% of club – as transactionally simple. Repeating it would clear debt completely + provide additional funding for players and stadium etc.”