Turki Al-Sheikh drops cryptic Man Utd takeover update and says deal is 'advanced'

Saudi sports chief Turki Al-Sheikh has talked up the prospect of a fresh Manchester United takeover bid . The club's majority owners, the Glazer family, rejected a takeover by Sheikh Jassim Al-Thani’s Qatari consortium when they sold 27.7 per cent of the club to Sir Jim Ratcliffe for £1.25billion.

The Glazers, who have been in charge at Old Trafford for two decades, were seeking investment in the club and eventually gave Ratcliffe and Ineos a minority stake, but allowed him to take control of football operations.

Their leadership at the club has not been overly successful thus far, but they remain committed to the project. Saudis only current involvement in the Premier League is via their ownership of Newcastle, but they continue to invest heavily in football projects.

Al-Sheikh, who has had huge influence over staging some mammoth boxing contests, has taken to social media and said: "The best news I heard today is that Manchester United is now in an advanced stage of completing a deal to sell to a new investor ... I hope he’s better than the previous owners".

His comments come out of left-field with there being absolutely no noise around the Glazers wanting to sell up, nor was it mention by Ratcliffe in his recent interview about the state of the club.

READ MORE: Sheikh Jassim already outlined Man Utd takeover proposal as Sir Jim Ratcliffe delivers update

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Ratcliffe has even come out and underlined his long-term vision for the Manchester outfit. In doing so he backed his decision to make a number of job cuts last term, which proved hugely unpopular, but he insists will pay off.

He said: "If you look at our results for last year we have the highest revenues ever. Profitability, the second highest ever. Those numbers will get better. Manchester United will become the most profitable football club in the world, in my view, and from that will stem, I hope, a long-term, sustainable, high level of football."

Sheikh Jassim previously claimed he would wipe clear any debt that existed on the red half of Manchester, but his takeover bid was ultimately unsuccessful. The Glazers were seeking an investor, rather than the chance to sell-up for good.

Across the road at Manchester City ownership from the Middle East has allowed them to become the most successful side in England over the past decade. The millions from their Abu Dhabi owners have allowed them to conquer Europe and, more recently, the Qatari-owned PSG won the Champions League.

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