Manchester United’s top four hopes are in the balance. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)
The takeover bids submitted by Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe to take control of Manchester United will not change if the club fail to qualify for the Champions League.
United’s top four hopes have taken a hit in the last week following successive defeats to Brighton and West Ham.
That leaves Liverpool just a point behind the Red Devils, though Erik ten Hag’s side have a game in hand.
Qualifying for the Champions League would boost United’s finances to the tune of around £60m and aid Ten Hag’s desire to sign top class targets this summer.
Bids submitted to the Raine Group – who are overseeing the takeover process – were made in late April.
At the time, United seemed destined to finish in the top four and the bids made by Ratcliffe and Jassim appeared to reflect that, with both coming in just under £5bn.
Ratcliffe is the current favourite (Credits: REUTERS)
Failing to qualify for the Champions League would damage the brand, affect sponsorship deals with Adidas and impact the next 12 months of revenues.
However, the Athletic say the bids were not subject to United qualifying for the top four and that the valuations were built on an all-round estimation of the club’s worth, not their ability to qualify for the Champions League this season.
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The bidders hope to get news back from the Raine Group in the next ten days, though there’s no guarantee that the Glazers will definitely sell the club.
Two of the six Glazer siblings remain keen to keep hold of the club, or at least to maintain their shares.
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The saga is finally nearing an end.