Man Utd takeover: Sheikh Jassim plots Solskjaer return as Kylian Mbappe transfer speculation provokes heated response

The Man Utd takeover appears now nearer to being resolved with the prospective new owners unlikely to be in place before the season starts on August 11, leaving Erik ten Hag to operate within the Glazers’ summer budget of just £120m.

The Red Devils were put up for sale by the unpopular Americans in November of last year. Having acquired the club for just £790m back in 2005, they stand to make a vast profit with a likely sale in the region of £5.5bn – £6bn suggested.

However, seven months after the process began, the club are still not close to changing ownership.

Two main parties are shortlisted in the bidding process. Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS bid is reportedly worth £5.5bn though plans to keep the Glazers as minority shareholders.

The Sheikh Jassim offer reportedly now tops £6bn – and plans to wipe out the club’s £500m debts in the process. Furthermore, serious investment in the playing squad, including links to the likes of Kylian Mbappe, makes the Qataris serious players.

However, with the Raine Group handling the takeover, The Times reports that a deal to takeover at Old Trafford conitnues to drag on. And they claim any agreement is unlikely to go through before the new season gets underway.

That will come as an enormous frustration to manager Ten Hag. Indeed, it is reported he will instead be forced to work within the Glazers’ £120m summer transfer budget. More money, however, could be generated by player sales.

But with the United boss hoping for another major overhaul of his squad, he will now be forced to act a little more shrewdly this summer.

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Man Utd takeover: Solskjaer return on the cards

Indeed, the United manager reportedly wants at least three marquee signings this summer. And with a striker, a defender and a midfielder on his list of targers, the club may now be forced to dial down their ambitions.

That will likely mean moves for big-name targets like Victor Osimhen, Harry Kane and Mbappe can be forgotten about.

However, one name the club are being surprisingly linked with is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The former United manager is yet to return to top-level coaching following his dismissal by the Red Devils in November 2021.

However, while United, and both would-be owners, are entirely happy with Ten Hag, there are claims that Solskjaer could be brought back.

And according to the Daily Mirror, Sheikh Jassim is aiming to bring the Norwegian back to Old Trafford in some capacity. Whether that will be in a coaching role or in a role behind the scenes remains to be seen.

However, it’s claimed his return to Old Trafford will be one of the first things sanctioned by the Qataris if they take control.

Kylian Mbappe knocks transfer speculation on the head

One ambitious target of Sheikh Jassim’s is reportedly PSG superstar Mbappe.

His deal at the Ligue 1 giants is due to expire next summer, with the 24-year-old able to leave as a free agent.

Understandably, PSG are now keen to let a £200m-rated asset depart for nothing. As a result, claims about a move this summer have gathered pace in recent weeks. To that end, both long-term suitors Real Madrid and Manchester United are both reportedly keen.

Mbappe, however, is keen to stress that he has no desire to leave the French capital this summer.

Speaking about his future, and amid links to the likes of United, Mbappe made clear his wishes to Telefoot.

“I have already said that I will stay. I’ve already said that long before all this happened,” the 243-goal star said.

“I only resolve to play at PSG next year. That’s what I said. There are a lot of things that happen in a year, even more so at a club like PSG.”

Nonetheless, with Mbappe making clear his wish to leave, his future will continue being a topic of hot debate.

From January 1, he will be free to negotiate pre-contract terms with overseas clubs. And this time next year, Mbappe will be just days away from officially entering free agent status.

Of course, much could change in the intervening weeks and months.

But for now, Mbappe’s willingness to leave will ensure he continues to dominate plenty of transfer gossip columns.

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