The completion of the Manchester United takeover saga is imminent, according to Rio Ferdinand.
The ownership issue has been rumbling on for months and has clouded what was a solid first season under Erik ten Hag. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim, the two potential new owners, have been engaged in a bidding war, with the latter recently submitting a fifth, take-it-or-leave-it offer.
Still, there had been no clear indication that an end to this saga was actually in sight - until now. The Jassim effort made headlines earlier in the week when Qatari media claimed that the offer had been accepted. This turned out to be a false flag, instigated by a Twitter account.
Nevertheless, Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has now also thrown his weight behind the Qatari proposal.
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Speaking on his FIVE YouTube channel, Ferdinand stated: "[The] Man United takeover is imminent. We're hearing the Qatari bid is the one that's taken over, is the one that's going to be accepted, is the one that is going to go through."
"Hallelujah, man! We can't wait. Please, let this happen! Please, let it be true! Look how long this has gone on for. The Glazers have dug their heels in."
"Obviously it's going to the biggest bidder," he continued. "The person that bids the most money is going to get the club, which is normal in negotiations, but they've certainly dragged their heels. I just wanted this to be sorted out and resolved before the transfer window really kicks in."
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Though Ferdinand isn't quite correct in stating that the Qataris are the highest bidders, with their 'final' offer believed to still have been less than Ratcliffe's, the Independent recently claimed that they are very optimistic about their prospects of winning out.
Indeed, the report says the fact that the Glazers managed to get Jassim to up his bid - thanks to encouragement by PSG chief Nasser Al-Khelaifi - is seen as a strategic win.
Unlike Ratcliffe, the Qataris have a basically unlimited fount of money and the Glazers may be hoping to be able to squeeze more out of them than out of the INEOS boss.