According to The Guardian, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani are both willing to take the long view in their quests to acquire Manchester United.
Ratcliffe’s attorneys are more certain that the American family still intends to sell the club, but Sheikh Jassim’s officials are still unclear.
Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim have not specified a deadline for a settlement.
The American family said in November of last year that they were “commending a process to explore strategic alternatives” for the club, indicating that their contentious and unpopular ownership, which started in 2005, would come to an end.
Sheikh Jassim made a number of offers for the club, the last of which, of no more than £6 billion, was submitted in June.
Ratcliffe’s proposal is to purchase somewhat more than 50% of United while keeping one or more Glazers as minority shareholders. The US bank overseeing the deal, the Raine Group, has not yet contacted either party.
