The potential takeover of Manchester United reached its latest chapter on Thursday evening after a second bid from Sir Jim Ratcliffe was submitted.
A spokesperson for Ratcliffe's INEOS group confirmed to MEN Sport confirmed as such, with the petrochemicals billionaire and boyhood United fan joining several other unnamed second-stage bidders. He and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani have long been thought of as the two serious contenders, although neither managed to meet the original Wednesday 9pm deadline and both were forced to ask for an extension.
That extra time was granted by the Raine Group, the merchant bank overseeing the sale on behalf of the Glazers, allowing both frontrunners to finalise their revised offers. Sheikh Jassim's proposal is expected to follow in the coming days, but confirmation of Ratcliffe's offer - he plans to take the 69% shareholding owned currently by the Glazers - reportedly values United at around £5billion.
ALSO READ: Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS submit improved bid for United
Developments regarding the takeover are set to dominate the news cycle for the foreseeable, with opinions split on who would be the best fit and what they will need to bring to the club. Several former Reds players have already had their say in the prospective takeover, which you can see below.
Teddy Sheringham (March 2023)
"People don't like the Glazers being involved, I’d say that's an understatement. Just tell us when it's all happening. It’s on and off, is it happening? What bids? It doesn't really concern anybody, just tell us who's taking over and when. It's all too much of a fiasco with the on and off stuff.
"No [it wouldn’t affect players]. It wouldn't even come into anyone's ideas to talk about who's going to be in charge and take over. That’s way above what any player needs to worry about."
Wayne Rooney (February 2023)
"Firstly, I think the Glazers have done a fantastic job, they've been at the club for, well they signed me in 2004, so they've been at the club for 20 years now and I think they've always allowed managers to bring the players in they want.
"I think it's clear the fans want change and obviously it looks like the Glazers are open for that change to come with putting the club up for sale and receiving the bids they have received, so hopefully they get the right people in. And it's people who are going to try to move the club forward."
Gary Neville (January 2023)
"The main thing is that the Glazers leave as quickly as possible and the second thing is that whoever takes it over, if they could hand it over to people who are in good hands and have a feeling for the club, that would be great.
"Jim Ratcliffe was born in Manchester and knows the area. If he wins it, I think there will be a lot of very happy Manchester United fans. He would want to do the right thing by the club - in fact I am sure that he would.
"That’s the main thing beyond the Glazers leaving, that they don’t hand it over…I don’t think United can hand it over to another investment firm who are expecting a return on their money. That’s what worries me a little bit about private enquiry coming into football and that ultimately, they are looking for a return on their money and a return on their investment.
"If that’s the case, it could mean that United aren’t in a similar place to where this club [Manchester City] are here, or Newcastle with benefactors who are happy to live debt free, not have interest payments, not leverage debt against the club. Manchester United need to be a debt-free football club, with someone who’s willing to put money in."
Roy Keane (November 2022)
"That’s good news for United fans, again, the last few years they’ve wanted [the] owners out, there’s been no relationship, they're business people so it’s good news for the fans."
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