Manchester United fans should remember the name Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani.
That's because he will become the club's new owner if his bid to take charge of the 13-time Premier League winners is successful. The Qatari banker submitted an offer to buy United before Friday's 'soft' deadline. The Glazers, the current custodians of the club, announced their intention to sell up three months ago.
Sheikh Jassim will need to beat British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his mega-rich INEOS company to take charge of United, but who is he? Here, Mirror Football take a look at the wealthy Qatari who wants to restore the Red Devils to their "former glories".
Who is Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani?
Born in 1982, Sheikh Jassim is a Qatari banker and lifelong United supporter.
His father, Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, served as Qatar's prime minister between 2007 and 2013. The politician is also involved in the running of Paris Saint-Germain, which could cause a conflict of interest between United and the French giants.
It is important to note Ratcliffe's INEOS company also owns French side Nice and Swiss outfit Lausanne. It is unclear whether he would need to sell those assets to buy United. Multi-club ownership is common, but UEFA see it is a "threat" to European competitions.
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Sheikh Jassim was educated at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, UK. He graduated as an officer cadet and eventually became the chairman of the Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) - one of the leading banks in the country.
Sheikh Jassim still holds the latter role and has previously been a board member of Credit Suisse. It is unclear what his net worth is, although the QIB ranks third in Forbes Middle East's top 30 most valuable companies in Qatar.
What has Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani said?
Sheikh Jassim released a statement on Friday night. He promised to "return the club to its former glories" - acknowledging their 10-year wait for a Premier League title - and wipe off the debts accrued by the Glazers.
Sheikh Jassim's statement read: "Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani today confirmed his submission of a bid for 100 per cent of Manchester United Football Club.
"The bid plans to return the club to its former glories both on and off the pitch, and - above all - will seek to place the fans at the heart of Manchester United Football Club once more.
"The bid will be completely debt free via Sheikh Jassim's Nine Two Foundation, which will look to invest in the football teams, the training centre, the stadium and wider infrastructure, the fan experience and the communities the club supports.
"The vision of the bid is for Manchester United Football Club to be renowned for footballing excellence, and regarded as the greatest football club in the world. More details of the bid will be released, when appropriate, if and when the bid process develops."
When will Man Utd's takeover be completed?
Although Sheikh Jassim is the only person to publicly announce a bid, it is believed Ratcliffe has submitted an offer after recently expressing an interest. There is also a chance other bids have been submitted without the public's knowledge.
There were interested parties from the United States and Saudi Arabia, and United fans should not be shocked if another bidder emerges over the coming days.
American company The Raine Group are leading the sale and will analyse all bids to ensure they are supported by solid financial foundations. It is believed Sheikh Jassim's bid does not rely on borrowed money, with Ratcliffe potentially courting a consortium.
It could be a while before a preferred bidder is decided. United are believed to be worth around £3.6billion - according to Friday's valuation on the New York Stock Exchange - but the Glazers are expected to slap a £5bn price tag on the Premier League club.
Furthermore, the Glazers may change their mind on a full sale and could flog just a fraction of their shares. They promised to "consider all strategic alternatives, including new investment into the club" when their intention to sell was announced last November.
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