Three years on from one of the most drawn-out takeover sagas, the question over Manchester United’s ownership has resurfaced and inevitably, so has the name of Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The Qatari businessman came closer than anyone to purchasing 100% of the club from the Glazer family back in 2023, and with fresh reports of certain Glazer siblings now pushing for a sale, speculation about a renewed approach from his camp was always going to follow.

But will he actually come back?

How Close was Sheikh Jassim to Buying Manchester United?

When the Glazers opened up the bidding process in late 2022, Sheikh Jassim quickly emerged as the most ambitious suitor. His Nine Two Foundation tabled multiple offers, eventually understood to be in the region of £5 billion, promising to clear the club’s debt entirely and invest heavily in the stadium, training ground and squad. It was exactly what United fans had been crying out for.

But it wasn’t enough. The Glazers ultimately favoured Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s proposal for a partial stake, with the INEOS billionaire completing a deal worth around £1.25 billion for just under 30% of the club. A source close to the Qatari group later said they felt the goalposts had “continually changed” throughout the process and that they had been left feeling used.

Ratcliffe’s time in charge has done little to ease the frustration of the United fanbase. Mass redundancies, repeated managerial changes, and even a reduction in staff Christmas bonuses have kept the club in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Will Sheikh Jassim Make Another Bid for Man Utd?

So, with the Glazers now reportedly entertaining the idea of a full sale again, has Sheikh Jassim reconsidered?

According to the Mail Online, the answer is a firm no, at least for now. A fresh bid is described as “highly unlikely,” with those close to the group said to be “scarred” by the way the 2023 process played out.

Crucially, Sheikh Jassim’s consortium hasn’t even been approached to gauge their interest, which in itself says something about where things stand between the two parties. The ambition was never in question; his 2023 statement set out a sweeping vision to make United “the greatest football club in the world.”

But ambition and appetite are two different things, and right now, the appetite is nowhere to be seen.

United dreamed of what his involvement might have looked like, so this will feel like a disappointing update. But you never know when things might re-ignite. Newcastle’s takeover by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) was dead in the water, but a year later, the deal was back on the table, and they became the richest team in the world overnight.

Liverpool are entering a new era at Anfield under Andoni Iraola for next season, and they have now been given a major boost in their bid to sign a top Tottenham Hotspur star.

The Reds have seen Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson depart the club at the end of their contract this month, and that means that defensive reinforcements are being eyed as a priority for the transfer window, with Iraola keen to ensure they don’t ship more than 50 goals again.

One of the top targets for Liverpool in recent months has been Spurs star Micky Van de Ven, with the centre-back understood to be very keen on making the switch to Merseyside.

Liverpool Get Major Van de Ven Boost

Van de Ven, who has been described as ‘world-class’, has been expected to depart the north London club after they narrowly avoided relegation for a second consecutive season, with the Netherlands star playing a key role in keeping them in the top flight.

Spurs are also looking to bolster their squad and have already brought in Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson on a free transfer. Now manager Roberto De Zerbi has made it clear that he is preparing for an exit by getting the club to table a big offer for Brighton star Jan Paul van Hecke.

While the offer was rejected, with Brighton pointing to their £70m valuation, Spurs are confident of getting a deal done and have already agreed personal terms with the Netherlands international.

While there is an expectation that Cristian Romero will leave too, Liverpool’s interest in Van de Ven simply cannot be ignored in this situation, and should Tottenham bring in Van Hecke, then it would likely be a major boost to their plans to bring the 25-year-old to Anfield.

Van de Ven Would be a Gamechanging Signing

Liverpool are in desperate need of a new central defender to come in and strengthen the squad after Konate’s departure, and they need whoever it is to be ready to make an immediate impact.

Jeremy Jacquet has already agreed a deal to join the club and will arrive to provide competition, while Iraola will be hopeful that young Italian defender Giovanni Leoni can return from his knee injury and continue to be a top prospect.

But with Virgil Van Dijk turning 35 before the season starts, another first-team ready option is needed to ensure standards are maintained, and Van de Ven would be perfect if a deal can be found.

Danny Dyer hasn’t minced his words when discussing Thomas Tuchel’s decision to leave his son-in-law Jarrod Bowen out of his 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup.

The English actor is a well-known West Ham United fan, and was left gutted when the Hammers suffered relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 2025-26 season. His misery was further compounded by Bowen’s omission from the Three Lions’ squad.

The West Ham forward married Dyer’s eldest daughter in 2025, while the couple also share two children together. He’s been the main man at the east London club since he joined in 2020. It’s been a tough couple of weeks, and now his father-in-law has lifted the lid on Bowen’s emotions.

Danny Dyer Slams ‘Ridiculous’ England Decision

Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show before taking part in Soccer Aid last weekend, Dyer left nothing to the imagination when expressing his anger at Tuchel leaving Bowen out.

“It’s a double-whammy for him, he had a terrible weekend. It’s awful, he didn’t get called, which is a JOKE, by the way,” the 48-year-old said.

He even went on to call his omission ‘ridiculous’, adding: “I might be slightly biased. We were half booking flights. That’s how confident we were and then it turns out he got the call. It’s a tough weekend for the kid but he’s got a big heart and he should be on that plane. I think it’s ridiculous.”

Dyer doesn’t hold much hope in his country at the upcoming tournament in the States, Canada and Mexico. “Without Jarrod, they’re going to be pony. I don’t think we’ll beat Croatia in the first game,” he claimed.

It’s clear he isn’t the biggest Tuchel fan, either, as he pointed out that the best teams the German has faced to date have got the better of England: “Anyone decent we’ve played, we lost. We lost to Senegal and Japan. As soon as we’ve had a test, he’s failed.”

Rather brutally, Dyer made a point of naming Arsenal’s Noni Madueke as the player that should’ve been left at home so that Bowen could claim a place on the plane. He told Rooney and his co-hosts:

How Jarrod Bowen Feels About Leaving West Ham

Bowen is now being linked with a move away from West Ham, with many wondering how Dyer would feel about him exiting the club. The Football Factory actor did reveal just how hard the relegation has been on Bowen, saying: “He’s devastated about it. I can’t tell you how much he takes it to heart.”

While he’s previously named the only two clubs he’d ‘suffer’ seeing the 29-year-old join, Dyer has claimed to have no knowledge of any potential move. Confirming that Bowen would like to stay put in the capital, he continued: “He wants to stay because he loves the club. I’ve got no answers about that at all.