"Secret Talks" over Man United takeover - Glazers Deny

"Secret talks" were apparently held between a Qatari consortium whom we can safely presume are incredibly rich and the vastly unpopular Glazer family and current owners of Manchester United over a possible takeover. "Great!" Manchester United fans would think, but alas, the Glazers have once again denied that any talks were held, and reiterated that the club is not for sale whilst reportedly waiting for around £2 billion for Manchester United, not the £1.5 billion that has seemingly been tabled.

The following is from The Guardian:

"A Qatari consortium is reported to have offered £1.5bn to buy Manchester United from its current owners, the Glazer brothers, after holding secret talks.

But the club yesterday denied that there has been any approach and reiterated that Manchester United is not for sale.

It is understood, however, that an approach from Qatar Holding – an investment group controlled by the Qatari royal family – took place shortly after the Arab state had secured the right to stage the 2022 World Cup finals.

Discussions are said to have foundered because of the asking price. The Glazers value the club at close to £2bn, which is more than the Qatar group, which recently agreed a record £125m shirt deal with Barcelona, was initially prepared to pay.

The Glazers paid £800m for the club in 2005, the majority of which was provided by loans secured against the club's assets. The borrowings are now believed to stand at around £530m.

Football sources believe Qatar, keen to raise its profile still further in the game, will return with a higher offer."

The Glazer family's reluctance to sell Manchester United, a club in masses of debt has been incredibly frustrating for Red Devils fans, most of whom would welcome a takeover from a ridiculously rich group. This, a group who could inject masses of money into the club for transfers as well as clearing all of the debt. There will be more waiting for a takeover it therefore seems, as the Glazers keep their fingers tightly around one of the most successful football clubs in the world and wait for a bid of at least £2 billion. Will anyone or any group rummage through their pockets for an amount so vast? Lets hope so.