Report: Sheikh Jassim makes last-ditch effort to win Man Utd ownership race

Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani has made a last-gap effort to beat British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe in the race to take control of Manchester United from the Glazer family, according to The Times' Matt Dickinson and Matt Lawton.

Ratcliffe was reportedly in pole position to buy United after he submitted an offer for a controlling stake that allowed brothers Joel and Avram Glazer to retain a 20% share. The bid valued the club at around £6 billion.

Interested parties were encouraged to submit their final offers at the end of April, but Sheikh Jassim has now tabled a bid that's significantly higher than his previous approach, insiders told Dickinson and Lawton. The Qatari banker still wants to full control, but his improved bid values the club at around £5 billion.

Sheikh Jassim has pledged to clear United's debts, which could be as high as £969.6 million when gross debt, bank borrowings, and outstanding transfer fees are considered, BBC Sport's Simon Stone reports. He's also promised to provide funds for the club's infrastructure and the local community.

Joel and Avram Glazer were initially more reluctant to sell United than their four siblings who also hold shares in the club, Dickinson and Lawton report. Ratcliffe's subsequent proposal to allow two of the Glazers to stay involved at Old Trafford seemed to move the protracted ownership race along.

The Glazers and their bankers, the Raine Group, were willing to enter final talks with Ratcliffe regarding a sale, according to Dickinson and Lawton. Sheikh Jassim could now unsettle those negotiations.