Details about Man Utd bidders emerge with takeover 'at an advanced stage'

Manchester United are in talks with a new consortium over a bombshell takeover bid, according to a sensational claim by Saudi billionaire Turki Al-Sheikh. The statement, which appeared to come out of nowhere, suggested that a deal was 'at an advanced stage'. Al-Sheikh, a United fan himself, set tongues wagging on social media on Thursday morning.

He wrote: "The best news I heard today is that Manchester United is now in an advanced stage of completing a deal to sell to a new investor... I hope he's better than the previous owners." It initially fuelled speculation that a Saudi takeover could be on the cards, but Al-Sheikh later returned to clarify his comments. He insisted that he was not involved in the process, saying he was only speaking as a fan.

"Yesterday's post about Manchester United's potential sale meant one thing: the club is in an advanced negotiation phase with a new investor," added Al-Sheikh.

"Just to clarify, I am not the investor, nor are they from my nation. I'm posting this as a fan who wishes the deal to happen, though it might not necessarily happen."

It has since been reported by the Daily Mail that Al-Sheikh may have jumped the gun with his comments.

A group of investors based in the United Arab Emirates are said to be interested in making an offer to the Glazer family. However, they are yet to make contact with United's majority owners and there is no suggestion that a deal is currently close.

Al-Sheikh's comments reportedly caught the Red Devils by surprise, with senior figures insisting they did not know where the information had come from.

The sports chief is thought to be in talks with United about arranging a match during Riyadh Season, an initiative consisting of entertainment, cultural and sporting events designed to promote Saudi Arabia.

The UAE consortium's plans are still believed to be in their early stages and there is no guarantee that a formal takeover bid will arrive. However, they are said to have already reached out to some former players about joining the project as ambassadors.

An investment group from Qatar, led by Sheikh Jassim Al-Thani, unsuccessfully tried to buy United before Sir Jim Ratcliffe purchased his minority stake last year. That deal included a 'drag-along' clause which took effect in August.

It means the Glazers can now open talks with external investors without Ratcliffe's knowledge and force him to sell his shares in the club.

It has raised questions over the dynamic between United's long-term majority owners and Ratcliffe, who is in control of football operations at Old Trafford.

Just days ago, the INEOS billionaire insisted the Glazers had no power to demand the sacking of manager Ruben Amorim.

"We're local and they [the Glazers] are the other side of the pond," he told The Times. "That's a long way away to try and manage a football club as big as complex as Manchester United.

"We're here with feet on the ground. They get a bad rap, but they are really nice people and they are really passionate about the club."