Manchester United PLC, currently owned by the Glazer family, are expecting bids for the club imminently according to a report in the Telegraph.
The report said this includes approaches from around the world ahead of the ‘mid-February deadline’ with some suitors expected to go public as early as next week.
The Telegraph said the club had received ‘serious interest’ from consortiums based in the Middle East, Asia and the US while British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe is also mulling a bid, as the Glazers hope to sell one of the world’s biggest clubs for more than £5bn.
EXCLUSIVE: #MUFC owners the Glazers are poised to invite formal bids for the club by prospective mid-February deadline after receiving serious takeover interest from Middle East, Asia & America. Aim still for 1st quarter/April sale. Story with @Tom_Morgs https://t.co/hoJcYRXD2d
— James Ducker (@TelegraphDucker) January 13, 2023
Parties who were interested in taking over Chelsea, ahead of Todd Boehly’s £4.25bn takeover, are set to return with approaches for the Red Devils, according to the report.
Senior United figures want to complete any deal before the end of the season at the latest.
British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe is known to be one of the United’s most interested parties but the report said any bid from him would depend on the club’s qualification for next season’s Champions League.
Ratcliffe, however, is said to be wary of overpaying and pulled out of talks to buy Chelsea because he ‘considered the club too greedy’.
The British billionaire has supported United since childhood although he has a season ticket at Chelsea.
Shares in the company were trading 2% higher in the US shortly after the start of trading.