Man Utd takeover: Journalist gives encouraging update for ‘quick’ deal after Glazers’ ‘green light’

A takeover of Man Utd will move “quickly” once the Glazers have given the “green light” to their preferred bidders, according to CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs.

The Red Devils set a deadline of April 28 for third and what was expected to be final bids for the club with Sheikh Jassim, the chairman of Qatar Islamic Bank and the son of a former Qatari prime minister, and his rival Sir Jim Ratcliffe submitting offers before the cut off point.

after growing confidence in the Ratcliffe camp that they are winning the race to become the new Man Utd owners.

Reports insist that all parties are working towards a quick deal with the summer transfer window in mind and Jacobs has revealed that there are “elements of the process that have been completed”.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jacobs said: “For both groups, a decision can’t come soon enough. They ideally want to be in for when the transfer window opens.

“Manchester United need that because the recruitment team are planning, but at the moment, they’re unaware whose money they’re spending.

“So, one of the upsides of the way the process has been framed is even though it appears like we’re delayed over a preferred bidder or any clarity as to what the Glazers are thinking, there are elements of the process that have been completed, that would usually come further down the line in a traditional takeover in a period of exclusivity.

“So, a lot of the due diligence, a lot of the questioning, a lot of the logistics, has perhaps been done earlier, in a slightly transactionally backwards way.

“As a consequence, even though we still wait for the Glazers to give the green light to somebody should they do so, once that green light or if that green light comes, then both groups have a lot more in place at this stage of the process to try and complete a deal as quickly as possible.”

Man Utd fans are starting to become concerned that a delayed takeover could impact their ability to recruit the right players this summer with little news coming out of the club.

Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag recently said: “We do our job in the background and we are working hard but, for now, it is about games, getting into the Champions League and the FA Cup.

“For me, it is about finance and that there is the money available to do the right things.”

if the deal for Man Utd fell through but Jacobs yesterday quashed that speculation.

“Should Nine Two Foundation fail to agree a deal to buy #MUFC, it is anticipated QSI would lead on any approach to another club. Malaga is their next prospect.

“As previously revealed in January, Nasser Al-Khelaifi also held exploratory talks with Daniel Levy over minority investment in Spurs. QSI also haven’t held any talks with West Ham.”