Man United chiefs have doubts over Ratcliffe's plans to buy the club
Manchester United chiefs have been privately SCATHING about Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s plans to buy the club… as they are convinced that the INEOS owner doesn’t intend to meet the Glazers’ £6bn asking price
- Sir Jim Ratcliffe was the first potentially bidder to publicly declare his hand
- There are doubts though whether he will meet the Glazers £6bn valuation
- They feel his INEOS company are looking to attract positive publicity
Manchester United officials have been privately scathing about Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s plans to bid for the club, as they are convinced the INEOS owner has no intention of meeting the Glazer family’s demand for offers in excess of £6billion.
Ratcliffe became the first potential bidder to publicly declare his hand last week with an INEOS spokesperson confirming: ‘We have formally put ourselves into the process.’
However, United are convinced the company’s main concern is securing positive publicity.
Manchester United have doubts over Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s intentions to buy the football club
Ratcliffe went public with his desire to buy Chelsea last year, but only after the deadline for tabling bids had passed.
Chelsea were taken over by a consortium led by Todd Boehly in May last year.
Ratcliffe met United co-chairmen Joel and Avram Glazer for formal talks last year, and he is currently the only party to formally announce their interest in buying the club.
The 70-year-old is one of Britain’s richest men and a boyhood United fan, and he is expected to face rival interest from the United States, Asia and the Middle East after the Glazer family revealed their willingness to sell United following 17 years in power at Old Trafford.
There is feeling that he is unlikely to meet the Glazers’ £6billion asking price for a takeover
Ratcliffe is expected to face competition from across the world to buy out Manchester United
Investment banking firm Raine are lining up other potential suitors but the pool of possible buyers is small.
The bidding process is not yet underway, although the Glazers are not averse to remaining in control if they do not see the value in any offers eventually presented to them. Co-chairman Joel Glazer is still taking an active role in the running of the club.
It’s understood that the process for whoever takes over the club, could be concluded before the end of the season.
However, the £6bn demand from the Glazers is an eye-watering asking price for the club. Especially in comparison to Chelsea who were bought for £4.25bn.
United’s maligned owners, who completed a takeover in 2005, have been the subject of persistent fan protests, which have become more prominent in recent seasons.
Ratcliffe expressed late interest in Chelsea who were taken over by Todd Boehly (pictured)
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