Manchester United bidder Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to propose a controversial offer for the club, according to reports.
The Times reports he is planning an offer which would allow Joel and Avram Glazer the chance to stay at the club if he takes over, by retaining a 20 per cent stake.
Ratcliffe‘s offer has always been for a ‘majority stake’ rather than the 100 per cent offer proposed by Qatari bidder Sheikh Jassim.
The Times reports: “The Ratcliffe proposal involves buying a controlling stake of just over 50 per cent for his petrochemicals firm Ineos, with about 20 per cent remaining in the possession of Avram and Joel, two of the six Glazer siblings. The other 30 per cent will stay with various investment groups.”
The 1958 respond to Sir Jim Ratcliffe reports
The deadline for latest bids for Manchester United is this Friday (28/4), but there is no timescale for an actual decision from the Glazers.
A protest march will be held by The 1958 group before the Aston Villa game on Sunday.
They have issued a strong response to the reports Ratcliffe could team up with the Glazers.
The group tweeted: “If you get in bed with Glazer. You are a Glazer. The fans will have their say this Sunday. FULL SALE ONLY Join the protest!”
Teaming up with the Glazers would be a dangerous move for Ratcliffe from a PR standpoint. The message from United fans from day one has been ‘Glazers Out’, not ‘Glazers partially out’.
This would be a preferable move to the Glazers teaming up with a faceless American investment firm, or deciding against selling entirely.
There are some United fans who object to the Qatari offer, but this looks like the best move for the club, as it would ride the club of the Glazers once and for all, and wipe the slate clean.
Even if Ratcliffe’s proposal is the first step in gradually nudging the Glazers out the door and buying their stake later down the line, it is almost impossible to support an offer which would extend their stay.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
