United suitors given second bid deadline

SECOND bids for Manchester United must be lodged by the middle of next week — with final offers due around Easter, Sportsmail understands.

It had been thought those in the running to buy the club — or provide investment — would be given around 10 days to make second bids. But sources say that, in a tightening of the process, Wednesday is now the likeliest cut-off point. US bank Raine, which is handling the process, could then enter into an exclusivity period with one group. However, there will probably be another round of bids, with a deadline in early April pencilled in, after which the winner would be chosen.

The development comes as Sir Jim Ratcliffe and members of his Ineos group held talks with Raine and United officials. Ratcliffe, who claims to be a United supporter, was greeted at Old Trafford by the club’s chief executive officer Richard Arnold.

Their visit followed that on Thursday of those involved with the rival bid from Qatar’s Sheik Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani.

On the field, the road to the Europa League final in Budapest continues to take a Spanish detour for United after Erik ten Hag’s side were drawn against Sevilla in the quarter-finals. United will become only the second club to face four different opponents from the same country in a European campaign, having already played three teams from La Liga in this season’s competition.

They met Real Sociedad in the group stage, Barcelona in the play-off round and completed a 5-1 aggregate win over Sevilla’s neighbours Real Betis in the last 16 on Thursday night. Sevilla are Europa League specialists, having won the competition a record six times. They beat United in the semi-finals three years ago as well as in a Champions League knockout tie in 2018.

‘It’s going to be tough because they are really experienced in the Europa League, winning it so many times,’ said Ten Hag. If United progress, they will have to beat Juventus or Sporting Lisbon in the semis.