Manchester United takeover talk continues to abound after the club's 0-0 Premier League draw with Southampton.
The second stage of the process is underway as Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS Group and Qatari Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani have advanced from the indicative stage after making their proposals public last month. American hedge fund Elliott Management has also reportedly joined them in progressing with their financing proposal.
The Raine Group continue to oversee business on behalf of the Glazer family as the field begins to formalise. Here are the latest takeover headlines:
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Ratcliffe 'remains confident'
Sir Jim Ratcliffe's confidence in becoming Manchester United's majority owner remains in place as the takeover process progresses to the second stage, according to The Times.
So much so that INEOS has already 'begun the process of identifying a new technical and executive team'. Sir David Brailsford became the group's director of sport last year and is now leading a recruitment drive that has already 'opened conversations' across the board.
INEOS own French club OGC Nice and Swiss side FC Lausanne-Sport plus are involved with Ivory Coast-based team Racing Club Abidjan. The chemicals company are involved in athletics, cycling, Formula 1, rugby and sailing.
Romano refutes Qatari U-turn
Journalist Fabrizio Romano insists that Qatari Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani's takeover plans remain the same amid reports that he is prepared to walk away.
In an update on his YouTube channel, Romano offered his insight on the process: “From what I understand, the plan of the Al Thani family and the Sheikh Al Thani is still the same," Romano said [quotes via Football FanCast]. "He wants Manchester United. It’s not true, as we saw around, that he’s prepared to leave the negotiation.
“From what I understand, as of now, at this stage he is still 100 per cent involved. He made the proposal, he’s still working on that. Also, the feeling of the Al Thani family is that their proposal is the best one for the club – not just on the financial side, but also because they want to buy [100 per cent of the club].
Summer sale 'more likely'
The Glazer family have reportedly adjusted their aims of sanctioning an April sale and are now targeting a summer sale instead, according to the Telegraph.
That timeline would see any potential takeover completed after the end of the 2022/23 season but before the transfer window reopens again in June, pending an acceptable offer arriving in time. The newspaper reiterates that bids from Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and Sir Jim Ratcliffe currently fall short of the Glazers' £5 billion minimum valuation.
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