Who has submitted a Manchester United takeover bid?

Manchester United received takeover bids from Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani late on Friday evening as a potential takeover of the club reaches its next stage.

Current owners the Glazer family made public their intentions to 'explore strategic alternatives' at United in November. Rumours of interest in buying the club surfaced across the globe in the aftermath of the announcement, but the most consistent has been far closer to home in the form of boyhood fan Ratcliffe.

The Glazers hired investment banking firm the Raine Group to assist with the process of welcoming bids. A soft deadline of 10pm Friday, February 17 was set for any potential bidders to submit their bids.

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Qatari billionaire and Reds fan Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani made his bid public late on Friday. A statement was released confirming the news.

"Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani today confirmed his submission of a bid for 100 per cent of Manchester United Football Club.

"The bid plans to return the Club to its former glories both on and off the pitch, and — above all — will seek to place the fans at the heart of Manchester United Football Club once more.

"The bid will be completely debt free via Sheikh Jassim's Nine Two Foundation, which will look to invest in the football teams, the training centre, the stadium and wider infrastructure, the fan experience and the communities the Club supports.

"The vision of the bid is for Manchester United Football Club to be renowned for footballing excellence, and regarded as the greatest football club in the world. More details of the bid will be released, when appropriate, if and when the bid process develops."

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