Manchester United officials hold Old Trafford talks with Qatar bidders over potential takeover

Manchester United officials have held meetings with the Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani bid to buy the club after they were shown round Old Trafford on Thursday.

Representatives of the bid were pictured outside Old Trafford earlier today and they will also visit Carrington during a day of talks and meetings as the second stage of the takeover process begins.

Shahzad Shahbaz, president of the Nine Two Foundation set up during the bid, was part of the delegation that held talks with United officials and banking figures overseeing the potential sale of the club.

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Al Thani has tabled a bid to take total control of the club but he was not believed to be present during the talks on Thursday, which are aimed at giving interested parties a greater understanding of the club. The bid has promised to clear the debt loaded on to the club during the Glazers ownership.

The discussions will outline United's plans for future growth, the current state of their finances and the scale of redevelopment needed at Old Trafford and Carrington. Bidders will then be invented to amend their offers for the club.

The only other known bidder for a full sale at this stage is Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos group and figures from that offer are due at Old Trafford and Carrington on Friday. Ratcliffe owns French club Nice and he will travel to Manchester after watching their Europa Conference League tie against Sheriff Tiraspol on Thursday night.

The meetings have taken place while United's first team are in Sevilla playing the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie against Real Betis.

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