Kieran Maguire gives verdict on Man United takeover rumours as 'false flag' spotted

Manchester United have been linked with a new takeover saga after rumours of a new bidder emerged on social media.

Saudi Arabian figure Turki Al-Sheikh sparked takeover speculation on X, formerly known as Twitter, when he claimed Manchester United were in “advanced stages” of a deal.

United sources insist there is no takeover news, but the rumours circulating online have certainly impacted the stock market, where United’s brand value has risen by $290 million.

Journalist Laurie Whitwell predicted that the Glazers would be open to selling the club before February 2027 as, after that deadline, the agreement for a minimum share price of $33 expires.

Kieran Maguire speaks out on Man United takeover rumours

The drag-along rights included in the Ineos takeover mean that the Glazers could force Ratcliffe to sell if a new bidder comes in, but the current valuation of the club is steep.

United is valued around £5bn based on the agreed $33 share price with Ineos, so it could be in the Glazers’ best interest to sell up before that agreed price expires in 2027.

United in Focus spoke exclusively to football finance expert Kieran Maguire about the rumours, and he was quick to cast doubt on the speculation.

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“I think if the Glazers had wanted to sell at $32 per share for the whole club, then they would have done so,” Maguire said.

“The fact that nothing has taken place speaks for itself. Yes, the share price has risen and I’ve been monitoring it myself.

“We’re still at $16, $17, and even that includes a speculative element to it.

“So the comments from Turki Al-Sheikh are intriguing, but the club has responded with a fairly heavy ‘no’, and given that it’s listed on the New York Stock Exchange, it’s got to be cautious about what it says publicly.

“So I think it’s a bit of a false flag that we’re seeing. If somebody wanted to get involved in a bid then Twitter’s not the best place to put out that information.

“So you do wonder about the motives of some of the people involved.”

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has long-term plans at Man United

The rumours of a new takeover bidder have cast doubt on Ratcliffe’s involvement at United moving forward.

He currently owns around 29% of the shares of the club, but the agreement with the Glazer family means he has complete control over how it is operated.

While it cannot be ruled out that the Glazers would be open to a majority takeover, from Ratcliffe’s side it’s clear that he is planning for the long-term.

Ineos have launched ‘Project 150’ at United aiming to win the Premier League by 2028. There has also been a £50m investment into Carrington and that doesn’t even cover the £2bn plans to build a new stadium.

Ratcliffe’s investments have already bolstered the amount of shares he owns, and there is always an option for him to buy up the remaining Glazer stocks to take full control.

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