Chelsea and Arsenal will soon have to contend with a revitalised Manchester United as a takeover at Old Trafford nears.
The Glazer family put the Red Devils up for sale last year and Friday's 'soft' deadline for interest means a deal is getting closer. It is being reported that a deal could be done by Easter ahead of the 10pm deadline on Friday.
Interest from Qatar appears to be leading the way while United fan and petrochemicals giant Sir Jim Ratcliffe, worth an estimated £12.7bn, is also keen, the British businessman so far the only player to have declared an interest publically. There is also the prospect of Saudi Arabian interest while businessman Elon Musk, who has a fortune of £167bn, is reportedly 'monitoring' the situation.
United could also see new American owners as interest in the Premier League continues to grow across the Atlantic Ocean.
The Glazers are reportedly holding out for £6 billion having seen Chelsea change hands last summer for £4.25bn when Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital took over at Stamford Bridge after Roman Abramovich was hit with sanctions.
If Qatar are successful in taking over at the Red Devils, the Old Trafford side would instantly become one of the most wealthy clubs in the world.
Qatar Sports Investments currently own Paris Saint-Germain and while there is no suggestion that QSI, worth a massive £379bn, would be the entity taking over at United, that is a glimpse as to the sort of wealth that would be behind Erik ten Hag's side.
Newcastle's owners, a consortium made up of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, RB Sports & Media and PCP Capital Partners, are worth a staggering £520bn while Manchester City's Abu Dhabi United Group owners are worth £18bn.
Arsenal and Chelsea's owners, meanwhile, are worth a reported £10.8bn and £13.2bn respectively.
There is also takeover talk around Tottenham Hotspur with Jahm Najafi, worth a reported £2.9bn, and MSP Sports Capital said to be 'preparing' an offer to the club's owners.
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