Manchester United takeover bidder Thomas Zilliacus has listed four aims he would wish to carry out should he become the club’s next owner.
The Finnish entrepreneur announced he had increased his initial bid on Saturday morning, after telling the Manchester Evening News on Friday that his original offer was “on the same level” as rival bidders Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani and Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
The 69-year-old has reached out to the two parties to propose a three-chord joint bid, after both submitted their second revised takeover offers this week amid the Raine Group - the bank who are facilitating the takeover process - extending its soft deadline beyond Wednesday.
READ MORE: Zalliacus explains what fans would have say in if takeover bid wins
Zalliacus says Raine received his offer - which is being funded through XXI Century Capital, an investment firm owned by his holding company - on Friday. MEN Sport understands that the firm includes investors from Asia, Europe and America.
The Finnish businessman's plans outline how, if successful, he would own 50 per cent of United with investing fans owning the other half. The Scandinavian businessman told MEN Sport about the kinds of topics stakeholder fans would be able to vote on through a newly-designed app.
In recent times, supporters have highlighted how they would want new owners to upgrade the facilities at Carrington and wish for the club’s debts to be wiped. In January, fans told MEN Sport what improvements they would like to see at Old Trafford, too, with many yearning for revamps.
When asked whether these issues would be part of his ownership plan, Zalliacus responded: “I think, as a new owner, we should initially focus on the surrounding infrastructure.
“I’ve been informed that there are needs to upgrade and improve Old Trafford, the training ground and so forth. So those are issues I would want to look at first.”
Zalliacus, for the moment, caveated pledging anything beyond this as he awaits further talks with Raine. Unlike the other two public bidders, XXI Century Capital are yet to gain access to a 'data room' containing detailed club finances.
“We’re still waiting for more information, so there might be things that we’re not aware of at the moment that also needs to be focused on,” said lifelong United fan Zalliacus, formerly of Nokia and founder of social media entity novaM Group.
“From the information we have, and looking at how Manchester United the team is doing today, I think under the new manager the team has improved significantly and I would say that on the field, things are looking reasonably good at the moment. So I don’t think the owners should get too much involved in general about what the manager is doing.”
In addition to his plans regarding infrastructure, Zalliacus also outlined what else he wants to achieve as United owner, should he win the takeover race. He added: “I want Manchester United to be the best club in the world, I want it to have the best values in the world, that it clearly communicates with the public.
“And I want the fans to be involved in the best way possible so that it is a global community who really feel they are part of Manchester United. That’s what I think we can do and that’s why I’m so excited about this opportunity.”
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