Man United takeover: Sheikh's £5bn offer sitll on table but Glazers may not sell

Sheikh Jassim still wants to buy Manchester United and his £5bn offer for the club remains on the table.

But sources close to the Qatari bid believe the process has stalled amid concerns the Glazer family are not sure they want to sell.

Sheikh Jassim has made five bids to buy United, making his final offer to buy 100 per cent of the club in a debt-free deal 11 weeks ago on June 7.

British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe has made rival bids to buy 69 per cent of the club owned by the Glazer family in a phased takeover.

Sheikh Jassim's bid team are aware of reports he is close to buying Manchester United, but as far as he is concerned the situation has not changed.

The Glazers announced in November last year they were considering selling the club.

In a statement, United said their owners would look at options to bring in new investment including "a sale or other transactions involving the company".

The Glazers bought United in a controversial £790m leveraged buyout in 2005, which involved borrowing more than £500m and loading their debt on to the club.

Servicing that debt has cost United more than £1bn, while United's latest accounts revealed the club's debt stands at £725m.

Sir Jim and Sheikh Jassim publicly confirmed initial offers in February. The third and final round of bidding concluded on April 28 but, with reports claiming a revised offer from Ratcliffe and INEOS had put them in pole position to acquire United, Sheikh Jassim moved again.

Sheikh Jassim believes his bid is a very competitive one which brings huge benefits to Manchester United, including clearing nearly £1bn worth of club debt and a separate fund to redevelop Old Trafford, the surrounding area and the club's Carrington training ground.

INEOS values United at a higher price but their bid is not for the whole club and would give the Glazers the opportunity to keep a 20 per cent stake.