Where Man Utd takeover stands as saga reaches 240 days to fuel notion Glazers will stay

Where Man Utd takeover stands as saga takes 240 days to fuel notion Glazers will stay

Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe remain keen to become the next owners of the Old Trafford club, but both bidders unaware of the sale process

Wayne Rooney hopes Marcus Rashford builds Man Utd legacy after new ddeaRset drags on and predicts what will ultimately happen.

Where are the things?

Still. The last few weeks have been particularly quiet and even the voices have gone numb. Perhaps the silence is a sign that behind-the-scenes work is being done, but the most recent update is that both Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe were set to agree a deal, but were waiting to hear who would receive preferred bidder status. Once (or more accurately, when) this is decided, the process should move quickly and none of the parties involved expect any surprising hurdles to be overcome.

Despite several false reports from Qatar that her husband would be the Glazers’ first choice, none of the prospects have any idea who will be chosen.

Why is it taking so long?

There are a number of theories, but the most common and logical one is that the Glazers aren’t convinced they want to sell.

And an important part of his statement last November should be kept in mind: “There can be no assurance that the review conducted will result in a transaction in which the company is a party.

They made no promises to continue, and if the entire episode results in the incumbents staying put, that can easily be considered dipping your toes in water. There have been rumors that the siblings – Avram and Joel are the hands-on operators but the other four retain a say – might disagree on what to do with the club their father Malcolm bought in a highly controversial leveraged buyout.

Insiders are sure there are no other significant issues hampering the process.

Mason Mount in action against Lyon.

What impact will the saga have on the club ahead of the new season?

The scale is difficult to quantify, but in terms of strategy, the club’s long-term future certainly plays a role. Questions remain over the transfer budget available to bolster head coach Erik ten Hag’s player base as he aims to close the gap to rivals Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table.

Mason Mount has arrived from Chelsea, Andre Onana is close to completing his move from Inter Milan and the Dutch boss is keen to add a No.9 in Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta.

However, well-founded reports suggest United also need to persuade fringe players to fund signings and without neglecting respect for those linked to them, they are not of the same caliber that players like City are chasing.

They don’t operate in the same financial environment as many superclubs across Europe – and for many fans that’s the main reason new investment is needed.

Are Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe running out of patience? He does not seem. Having come this far, both sides prefer to wait and see what happens. Their offers have come in and they are keen to become United’s next owners. And the rest is out of your hands.

Erik ten Hag is still looking for a new number 9. DON’T MISS IT

What happens next? One of the two is informed that he will be granted preferred bidder status, which will allow him to enter an exclusivity phase to work out the final details of a potential agreement.

But a word of warning: just because a band is offered at this stage doesn’t mean the deal will go through, as both sides still have the freedom to pull the plug.

It would be a very unpopular request, of course, but there’s no stopping them if they decide the finances or the mood aren’t right.

It’s pure speculation, but with each passing week, the likelihood of the Glazers deciding to stay or asking for even more money increases.

Only you and your loved ones will know your intentions, even if the next owners are in the dark. The chatter may be 240 days old, but only fools should expect sudden completion.