Avram and Joel Glazer have been offered a “best of both worlds” deal in order to agree the sale of a controlling stake in Manchester United to Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos group.
An improved bid valuing the Premier League club at more than £5billion enables United's Executive Co-Chairmen to retain their shares post-takeover; or to sell them at a guaranteed additional premium during the first two years of a Ratcliffe/Ineos regime.
The English billionaire's latest offer targets division amongst the Glazer family over the timing of a sale. Four of the six Glazer siblings want to profit immediately from a valuation more than double the record £2.5bn paid for Chelsea last year.
Arvam and Joel, however, believe that external investment can help develop United into a £10bn company and are interested in “strategic alternatives” to a full sale of the family shareholding.