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The five expected bidders for Manchester United have until next Friday to submit a one-paragraph request and proof of funds.
The club has been put up for sale by the majority shareholders, the Glazer family, although they would also contemplate a minority investment.
An aggressive deadline has been set, with offers to be submitted on Friday and the sale to be completed by the end of March.
To that end, interested parties “will have to submit a single-paragraph offer, simply revealing their offer and the percentage of the club they will take,” according to The Daily Mail.
“Proof of funds must also be attached.”
The Mail goes on to reiterate its claim from earlier in the week that a group of Qatari private investors are hoping to win the bidding war.
“Five serious offers are expected to take control of the club from the Glazer family,” the outlet explains, “and dozens are likely to be on the table in the form of investment rather than outright takeover.
“When the offers come in, the battle will move to the next stage, which is probably the most intense. Raine will be tasked with narrowing down those who have made offers to a key group of around two or three serious contenders.
“Then they will face each other in a race to become the preferred bidder. At that stage, full access to United’s finances will be granted, to allow for deep dives.
“If the bidders fall short of the Glazers’ valuation, and the Americans are thought to want around £6bn, they could go the investment route. However, those involved are hoping for a sale.”
In addition to the private bidders from Qatar, Britain’s richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe, an investor from Saudi Arabia and three US companies are believed to be preparing bids.
Ratcliffe is the only one who has made his intentions public.
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