Full Takeover Expected for Manchester United in Coming Weeks

Manchester United is expected to say goodbye to its current American owners as a full takeover looms.

The Glazer family, which hired the Raine Group in November to explore a possible sale of the iconic Premier League club, still remains open to selling a full or partial stake, but parties who have registered interest so far are leaning toward buying the team outright, according to The Daily Mail.

• Billionaire and longtime Manchester United fan Jim Ratcliffe and his chemical company INEOS were the first to announce they had entered the process.
• No other groups have publicly expressed interest, though the sale has reportedly intrigued groups from the Middle East, Asia, and the U.S.

The formal sale stage is expected to begin in the next three-to-four weeks. The Glazers are reportedly looking at a price tag of more than $7.2 billion — a significant jump from the $4.6 billion at which Forbes last valued the club.

Everton’s Investors

Elsewhere in the Premier League, Everton owner Farhad Moshiri clarified that the club isn’t for sale following reports earlier this week that he was looking for takeover offers of more than $616 million.

Moshiri added that a minority investment to help fund the club’s new stadium — expected to cost around $936 million — is close.

“It is not selling the club at all,” Moshiri said. “It is bringing more expertise in terms of sponsorship, commercial development.”