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INEOS billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe is the favorite to take the reins at Old Trafford and end the Glazer era at the club, according to a new report.
Ratcliffe is leading the race despite fierce competition from Qatari investors led by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.
The Peoples Person reported that an offer from the Gulf state would be made before the Glazer family’s Friday deadline.
And despite various reports suggesting Qatar is likely to outbid Ratcliffe, reports Football Insider, “QIA is adamant they won’t overpay to reach an above-the-line deal. That is why several experts consulted by this site still consider Ratcliffe’s offer as the marginal favorite.
“Ratcliffe is understood to have a genuine relationship with Joel and Avram Glazer. Sentiment alone would not be enough to convince the Glazers, but Ratcliffe is working closely with JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs.”
Football Insider adds that up to four offers are expected, but Elon Musk is not expected to be in the running.
The Twitter and Tesla mogul was reported to be monitoring the situation ahead of a potential United purchase.
Last year, Musk skyrocketed United’s share price after joking that he’s a Red Devils fan and wants to buy the club from the Glazers.
Football Insider believes that Musk investing in United is a long shot.
The American is unlikely to align his personal brand with United, an institution that operates in an industry fueled by tribalism.
Despite being a disruptor, Musk is unlikely to favor the rigors of pumping billions into United at the expense of driving his investors away from Tesla.
Musk’s reported interest fits into a report, which aired that United agents are planting stories in the media to increase the club’s price tag.
