Man Utd is reportedly in talks with Qatari buyers to buy club

• Qatar’s interest in United should serve as a “wake-up signal”.
• United improved under manager Erik ten Hag.
• They are currently third in the Premier League.

Man Utd is reportedly in negotiations with investors in Qatar as speculation about who would control the Premier League’s dominant teams grows ahead of a deadline for offers.

The 20-time English champions were acquired by the American Glazer family in 2005, and they declared their openness to a sale or investment in November.

The Ineos firm, owned by British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, became the first bidder to publicly declare interest in purchasing the club last month.

It is understood that proposals must be submitted by February 17 in order to be considered.

The Daily Mail reported that conversations had taken place with the club’s management regarding the purchase of United with a group of Qatari private investors who are certain their offer would be the best.

Just weeks after the energy-rich Gulf nation of Qatar hosted the World Cup, The Guardian claimed that Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani was considering buying United.

However, the emir purchased Paris Saint-Germain, the 2011 French champions, through Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), therefore a full acquisition of United would not be allowed under the rules in effect at the time under UEFA.

According to the British Press Association, QSI was thinking about buying a small minority share in United or another Premier League team.

The organisation is a subsidiary of the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the country’s sovereign wealth fund with hundreds of billions of dollars in assets.

Mansoor Al-Mahmoud, the QIA’s chief executive, told Bloomberg last month: “Sovereign wealth funds are becoming investors in some of the clubs, and you will not be surprised if we invest in this (area), but again, we go through a very fundamental process and making sure if we invest, it is very commercially driven for our future generations.”

According to Amnesty International, Qatar’s interest in United should serve as a “wake-up signal” to the Premier League about its ownership regulations.

“In the aftermath of the World Cup and the Qatari government’s strenuous efforts to fashion a glitzy new image for the country, any Qatari bid for Manchester United appears highly likely to be a continuation of this state-backed sportswashing project,” said Peter Frankental, Amnesty UK’s economic affairs director.

“We’re not inherently opposed to state-linked offshore financial consortia’s engagement in English football,” he continued, “but the Premier League must urgently enhance ownership standards to guarantee they’re human rights-compliant and not a chance for more sportswashing.”

The hated Glazers saddled United with massive debts while also supporting the failed European Super League idea in 2021.

The team hasn’t won any awards since 2017, and it hasn’t won the Premier League since 2013.

United improved under manager Erik ten Hag, who took over at the start of the current season, and are currently third in the Premier League.

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