Glazers keeping United fans in takeover limbo

to sanction the £170million transfer kitty Ten Hag would like amid ongoing negotiations with British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Qatari Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani.

They also know though the club’s value will drop without serious investment and that they must not fall any further behind Manchester City and keep pace with the rest of their top-four rivals.

However, the news is a clear indication a buyout is not close to being struck and the long-running soap opera could drift into the new Premier League season which starts on August 11 – 12 days after United return from their tour of America.

And that is certain to frustrate, anger and worry Old Trafford fans who are beginning to wonder if the club’s American bosses are changing their minds on plans to sell up after all.

News that Florida-based brothers Joel and Avram plan to be present at the tour games in the States will hardly help supporters calm nerves that are already frayed at the prolonged negotiations.

The Glazers first announced they were willing to sell all or part of United eight months ago during the World Cup in Qatar.

Since then 245 days have passed with the takeover picture still confusing with no one fully aware of the Glazer’s true intentions.

United fly out to America for four games after a friendly against French side Lyon at Murrayfield in

Edinburgh on Wednesday with Ten Hag needing a squad capable of mounting a serious challenge in the Champions League.

Mason Mount is already through the door from Chelsea for a fee of £60m.

But talks are ongoing with Inter Milan for goalkeeper Andre Onana and Atalanta for striker Rasmus Hojlund.

But both Italian clubs are digging in their heels and sticking to the value they have put on their two players.

United thought a week ago that they had made a major breakthrough in their bid to land Cameroon international Onana for just north of £40m, but Inter are holding out for £50m.

While Atalanta rate Danish striker Hojlund at £60m and, while that price could lower slightly in negotiations, United will still have to get close to that figure to get the deal done.

United are willing to offer squad players as part of any deal with Mason Greenwood among them.

But the financial outlay will still be significant and the Glazers have told Ten Hag the money will now be there for him to make the additions he wants.

David De Gea finally left the club as a free agent last week after a protracted departure process and Onana, who worked with Ten Hag at Ajax, is his priority.

Meanwhile, Barcelona want to re-sign United’s right-back Marc Jurado.