Manchester United Shares Have Surged This Year, Could There Be More Upside? The Latest On Sale Rumors

English Premier League team Manchester United MANU could be getting closer to an announcement of the sale of the team or a partial stake. Here’s the latest for investors to know.

What Happened: The Glazer family, which owns Manchester United, announced in November that it was considering the sale of the team.

Over the years, fans have hoped for a sale as the divide between team ownership and the club’s loyal supporters has widened.

“As part of this process, the Board will consider all strategic alternatives, including new investment into the club, a sale, or other transactions involving the company,” the team said.

Several potential bidders have emerged for buying the publicly traded sports team.

Bloomberg is reporting that Qatari investors are set to make an offer for the team this week, ahead of a tentative deadline of Friday for bids.

The Qatar Investment Authority, a sovereign wealth fund, is set to be helping with preparations for bids along with local family offices. Ruling emir of Qatar Sheikh bin Hamad Al Thani is said to be a Manchester United fan, which could increase the country’s interest in acquiring the team.

British billionaire and Manchester United fan Jim Ratcliffe has also been linked to interest in the team. Reports say Ratcliffe, who is one of the richest people in the U.K., has lined up Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase to help with the financing of a potential offer.

The Raine Group is advising the Glazer family and team on a potential sale.

Related Link: Elon Musk Is Not Buying Manchester United, But The Team Could Still Be For Sale

Why It’s Important: Qatar has increased its exposure to several of the major soccer teams around the world. Qatar Sports Investments, a separate entity from the Qatar Investment Authority, owns Paris Saint-Germain FC, one of the leading teams in France.

Qatar spent over $200 billion in the last decade on preparations to host the 2022 World Cup.

UEFA regulations won’t allow the same majority owners to have teams that compete in major tournaments together. Qatar Sports Investments chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi is a member of the UEFA Executive Committee.

Shares of Manchester United are up over 70% over the last year, thanks to the potential for a sale or a partial stake in the team. The team trades with an enterprise value of $4.6 billion, which is now in line with valuations given by Forbes and Sportico.

Many experts expect the Glazer family to have a high asking price of over $5 billion in an attempt to set records with any potential sale.

MANU Price Action: Shares of Manchester United are up 1.9% to $23.95 on Monday.

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