As things stand, Sheikh Jassim seems to be in pole position to buy Manchester United. Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s own bid is apparently ‘dead in the water’, something that works in the favour of his rival. And it seems a matter of when, not if, the mysterious figure ends up securing power at Old Trafford…
The Glazers are yet to confirm their intentions, having announced back in November they were open to potentially packing their bags and leaving the club.
But all signs currently point to Sheikh Jassim rocking up at Old Trafford this summer.
Confidence is growing in the Qatari camp that they’ll succeed in their mission to buy United, having tabled five offers for the club so far.
The noise around Ratcliffe, by contrast, sounds increasingly pessimistic.
So, with Sheikh Jassim seemingly the frontrunner, Express Sport now takes a look at four ways the club have already changed since the end of last season.
Carrington construction
At the end of May, images circled showing work being done to the club’s Carrington training complex.
Pictures showed a crane there, with the Academy Centre getting some improvements ahead of the new campaign.
And that will bode well, with United keen to modernise things behind the scenes.
Cristiano Ronaldo famously complained last year about the state of Carrington, insisting nothing had changed since his first spell in Manchester
The Red Devils have been improving facilities ever since, however, and have moved to up the ante now the building is currently not in use.
New home kit
Ahead of the potential Sheikh Jassim era, United have revealed their new home kit for next season.
However, they didn’t exactly have the smoothest of launches.
Firstly because rapper Aitch decided to sport the jersey for the whole world to see at Glastonbury festival.
And, secondly, because fans protested outside the United megastore on the day the strip went on sale.
Regardless of who owns the club, United will be sporting a different shirt to the one worn under Erik ten Hag last year.
One new signing basically done
United fans have been crying out for new signings.
And it seems as though they’re going to get their way, with Mason Mount on the verge of moving to Old Trafford.
The Red Devils have agreed an overall deal worth £60million for the England international, who will undergo a medical on Monday.
Players gone
United have already seen an exodus take place ahead of the new season.
Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe have departed, with the pair failing to live up to their potential at the club.
And Zidane Iqbal has been allowed to leave for FC Utrecht, while Wout Weghorst and Marcel Sabitzer have returned to Burnley and Bayern Munich respectively.
More players could be shown the door ahead of the Sheikh Jassim era.
Jadon Sancho, Anthony Martial, Harry Maguire, Scott McTominay and Fred are just several stars who could depart to raise funds for another summer spending spree.
