A number of Manchester United supporters have been left confused about the prospect of a takeover at the club coming to fruition after their leading prospective buyers were granted extensions to submit second offers.
Both Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe were expected to submit their second bids to purchase the club ahead of Wednesday evening's 9pm deadline. However, both parties were granted extensions by the Raine Group, who are overseeing the possible sale of the club on behalf of the Glazer family.
Sheikh Jassim's representatives visited Old Trafford last Thursday for talks with United bosses while Ratcliffe and his top team arrived in Manchester the following day. Both parties are keen to gain control of the club and have established themselves as the leading contenders.
READ MORE: United takeover latest LIVE
However, even though both were widely reported to be submitting 'world-record bids' ahead of the 9pm deadline, they were each granted an extension. Why that is has not been disclosed.
Nevertheless, both parties are expected to submit their bids for United and take the takeover process to the next stage. Sheikh Jassim, who submitted his first bid to buy the club ahead of the original soft deadline on Friday, February 17, reportedly believes that he has the best offer for the club to win the race and pip Ratcliffe to the post.
However, such is the confusion currently surrounding the state of play with the takeover and the prospect of whether or not the Glazers are still prepared to go through with a full sale of the club, several United supporters have become confused and are growing restless with the whole situation
READ NEXT:
