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Football

08th Feb 2023

Man United’s four player transfer shortlist if Qatar takeover goes ahead

Robert Redmond

man united transfer qatar

The Glazer family are looking to sell Man United.

Qatari investors are reportedly set to make a ‘massive offer’ for Manchester United and are said to be confident that they can buy the club ahead of rival bidders.

The Glazer family, who have owned the Red Devils since 2005, are looking to sell Man United and have reportedly set an asking price of over £6billion. It could also cost the new owners as much as £2b to redevelop Old Trafford.

This mammoth price tag could deter many interested parties, particularly if a bidding war develops. Yet, Qatari investors wouldn’t have such concerns and are reportedly ready to ‘blow rivals away’ with their offer.

According to The Daily Mail, Qatari investors view Man United as ‘one of football’s crown jewels’ and they plan to submit their first bid at some point over the next few days.

Qatar Sports Investments own Paris Saint-Germain, and they cannot own two clubs that could potentially meet in European competition.

Yet, according to reports, this would not be a stumbling block for the Man United bid, as the offer will come from ‘separate, individual Qatari investors’. They are said to be seeking a new project after Qatar hosted the World Cup last year.

The Qataris would also hand manager Erik ten Hag a ‘transfer war chest’ that would enable the club to compete for the world’s best footballers.

If the deal goes through, Man United’s summer transfer shortlist could include: Harry Kane, Victor Osimhen, Frenkie de Jong and Jude Bellingham.

The Red Devils were already reportedly keeping tabs on all four players, but the Qatari takeover would surely accelerate any potential transfers.

Kane will be in the final year of his contract with Tottenham in the summer. If he doesn’t sign a new deal, the club may be forced to sell the England captain, who turns 30 in June, or risk losing him on a free transfer in 2024.

Ten Hag’s squad currently lacks depth in forward positions, with Anthony Martial and loanee Wout Weghorst the only recognised centre-forwards.

It is unclear, however, if either player will be at Old Trafford in the long term, meaning the Red Devils may need to sign more than one striker this summer.

Osimhen has scored 16 goals in 17 games for Napoli this season, helping his side open up a 13-point lead at the top of Serie A. The 24-year-old is valued at €70m.

Elsewhere, Man United are long-term admirers of De Jong. The Dutch midfielder played under Ten Hag at Ajax, and the Red Devils chased him through the summer transfer window in 2022.

Man United missed out on De Jong, and moved for Casemiro instead. Yet, with Champions League football, new owners and Barcelona potentially needing to sell players, they could be in a stronger position to sign the midfielder in the summer.

Meanwhile, every top club in Europe is expected to be in the running to sign Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund.

Man United, if they were backed by Qatari, would undoubtedly have the resources to sign the highly-rated England midfielder.

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