Manchester United have received serious takeover interest from the Middle East, Asia and the United States and are poised to invite formal bids by a mid-February deadline.
British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe is also continuing to monitor the situation closely and, while an offer from him is still expected, formal talks are yet to begin.
Other candidates who expressed appetite to buy Chelsea last year are known to have also returned with approaches.
Over the coming weeks, potential investors from around the world will go public with their attempts to buy the sporting giant. The clock is now ticking on a deal, as it is understood senior figures will issue a mid-February invitation for formal offers.
The timescale allows for the club to stick with their instructions to have a deal completed before the end of the season. With that in mind, different prices depending on Champions League qualification could be a factor.
Interested parties underline it remains in the balance whether the Glazers will completely end their controversial 18-year ownership. United are expected to inform interested parties in the coming days that formal bids will be taken next month for total buyouts as well as minority stakes. There appears to be flexibility around the mid-February deadline, but the club are aiming to complete a deal by the end of April.
Ministers in Saudi Arabia and Qatar have previously played down the prospect of a state-backed buyout, given competing interests at Newcastle United and Paris St-Germain. However, other well-placed sources have again warned against ruling out the two nations.
Much of the feeding frenzy to buy Chelsea was in the US last spring and, while there’s again keen appetite, there have been conversations with a host of wealthy Arabic investors as well as interest from Asia.
Co-owner Avram Glazer flew to the World Cup in Doha and held a number of informal meetings. However, New York-based investment bank the Raine Group, which declined to comment when contacted, remains the first port of call for interested parties.
Ratcliffe, one of Britain’s richest men, is thought to be ready to table a figure which would be dependent on the club’s Champions League status.
At United, a price of up to £8 billion (€9bn) has been touted, but insiders remain tightlipped about the Glazers’ ballpark price. (IrishIndependent)