Michael Knighton's Manchester United takeover bid 'could be scuppered' by Britain's richest man

Michael Knighton’s potential bid to buy Manchester United has certainly got the club’s supporters talking, with fans divided.

The majority of United’s fan base are of course at the end of their tether with the club’s current owners, and many are welcoming the news of a formal bid being put in place in order to try and remove the Glazers. The American family are under increasing pressure to sell the club following a disappointing summer in the transfer market, not to mention a catalogue of errors that have seen the Reds slide further over the years.

But there are those who seriously doubt Knighton’s ability to be the club’s saviour. Any offer would be a hostile bid due to the club not being up for sale, meaning the Glazers would have no obligation to give the club up.

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Knighton’s previous involvement in football won’t do anything to convince those doubters either. The former United director was involved in a failed takeover of the club back in 1989, before buying Carlisle United and ending his spell in charge by placing the Cumbrian club into voluntary administration.

Even Knighton himself has seemingly pinned his hopes on another takeover bid superseding his consortium and, by his own admission, making him "redundant". "My consortium is ready and waiting, the funds are pledged, the offer document is being drawn up, and it will be presented," Knighton said in his video message.

"We’re still waiting for the great Sir Jim Ratcliffe to come forward because he solves all our problems, makes my job redundant, but until Jim comes, my consortium will be placing their bid very shortly – that, I guarantee."

Ratcliffe’s name may be