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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Dan Marsh

Man Utd sale: 'Mystery third bidder' involved in talks as Glazers stance made clear

An unidentified bidder from the United States is also in the frame to purchase Manchester United as the club's takeover saga rumbles onto the next stage.

There has been plenty of interest in the Premier League giants since the Glazer family effectively put the club on the market back in November. And despite recent speculation that United's unpopular American owners could perform a U-turn and stay put, some of the suitors who have already gone public with their bids have been invited to Old Trafford for further talks.

Lifelong Manchester United fan and INEOS chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe is one bidder who has made it through to the next stage of the process. Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani is also set for further talks over a deal - but they will be joined by a third group.

According to a fresh report from The Sun, a mystery bidder based in the US is also firmly involved in the takeover process. The next stage of the saga, which is being led by the Raine Group, will involve a round of talks with the current hierarchy at Old Trafford over the next fortnight.

However, whilst there is plenty of interest in the club, there are fears that co-owners Avram and Joel Glazer's indecision over a sale could still scupper any potential deal.

The Glazer family is said to be split over whether or not sanction a full sale of the club they purchased back in 2005 - particularly as nobody has come close to meeting their astronomical £6billion asking price.

And with Avram and Joel dragging their feet, there are now real fears that interested parties could run out of time to complete a takeover by the May 31 deadline.

Join the debate! Do you think the Glazer family will actually sell up at Man Utd? Let us know here.

Avram and Joel Glazer are believed to undecided over sanction a full-scale sale of Manchester United (Getty Images)

The same report outlines that experts believe that completing the due diligence of a sale could take up to two months due, with various factors such as the regeneration of Old Trafford and the debt owed to the Glazers at play.

If the family do decide to stay, it would represent a massive blow for Manchester United fans, who have staged numerous protests against their owners in recent years.

While the value of the third unnamed bidder's offer for the club has not been disclosed, it is believed that both Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim's proposals value Manchester United at around £4.5bn - meaning both are well short of the Glazers' £6bn valuation.

It remains to be seen whether or not the Glazer family would accept such a shortfall in terms of finance; particularly given Avram and Joel appear to be having second thoughts over a sale. The next stage of the process, due to take place over the next fortnight, should shed some more light on the situation as Erik ten Hag's side aim to build on last weekend's Carabao Cup success on the pitch.

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