05 Oct 2022 08:02:09
So this is pure speculation and I most probably am putting 2 and 2 together and coming up with 33, but here goes.

I think we will see a significant sale of part of the club this season and I think it'll be 30%.

Firstly, it is rumoured that not all the Glazer family are happy with owning the club and the negative publicity it brings. A couple of them have in the past looked to sell some of their shares. I think we could see a split maybe where one or two of them either sell a large chunk or all of their shares in the club.

Secondly, the sheer amount of investment this summer, over 200m, is unprecedented. Especially in the light of the club making a loss, not raising significant funds through sales and with no UCL football this summer. It begs the question of where has this money come from, or will be coming from, and how will they fill the hole it has left.

Thirdly, in the summer our new CEO Richard Arnold boldly told protesters down the pub that the club needed to seek outside investment to raise funds. That would suggest that the club had been planning to and maybe even actively seeking out investors.

Fourthly, today rumours have surfaced that Newcastle's new owners were approached prior to their takeover of Newcastle and offered a 30% stake in another unnamed EPL club. This ties in with a the rumours of a potential Saudi takeover of Manchester United that surfaced just over a year ago.

Finally, the rumours of a consortium looking to attempt a takeover/ invest in Manchester United are thought to be looking at initially buying a 30% stake. It's odd that it's that same figure of 30% keeps reappearing, almost like that is the figure the Glazers are looking to sell.

I think all these things point towards an outside investor buying a 30% share in the club. The key though is whether that money they use to buy into the club is going into the running of the club or whether it is going straight into the Glazers pockets.

If one or more of the siblings want out then it's them simply cashing out their shares and riding off into the sunset with their millions.

If they are watering down their ownership to raise funds for stadium improvements, or investment into the club then that is the best we can hope for. Either way but next summer I won't be surprised if someone else owns 30% of Manchester United.

1.) 05 Oct 2022
05 Oct 2022 13:52:46
Ratcliffe investment started at 26% so you can scratch that coincidence off.

2.) 05 Oct 2022
05 Oct 2022 18:28:07
If OT and Carrington improvements are to be made they're going to have to find an investor. But the big question is at what price and what protection will be offered to take a minority stake? I just don't see anyone investing 30% at a club valuation of £4-5bn without significant board representation and options to buy the Glazers out. The return on capital is simply not good enough. If United are paying £35m a year in dividends that equates to less than 1% yield, and arguably, given the economic travails facing the West, the club may struggle to become more profitable.