Sheikh 'talks' emerge after billionaire makes clear Man Utd takeover comment

Turki Al-Sheikh 'talks' emerge after billionaire makes clear Man Utd takeover comment

A Championship club claims to have held talks with Saudi sports supremo Turki Al-Sheikh following his Manchester United investment claims

Another English club has claimed to have held talks with Turki Al-Sheikh following the Saudi sports kingpin's Manchester United investment comments. Rumours of a takeover at Old Trafford were ignited during the international break when Turki Al-Sheikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, said on social media that a deal with an investor was nearing completion.

"The best news I heard today is that Manchester United is now in an advanced stage of completing a deal to sell to a new investor. I hope he's better than the previous owners," Al-Sheikh posted on X.

He later clarified that he wasn't the potential investor, stating: "Yesterday's post about Manchester United's potential sale meant one thing: the club is in an advanced negotiation phase with a new investor.

"Just to clarify, I am not the investor, nor are they from my nation. I'm posting this as a fan who wishes the deal to happen, though it might not necessarily happen."

United insiders soon distanced themselves from the claims, which emerged shortly after a wide-ranging interview with part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, where he gave no indication of any impending investment or willingness to relinquish control of football operations.

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It has now been claimed that Al-Sheikh, who has become an increasingly influential figure in the sports world, especially in boxing, held talks with Bristol City. In September, it was reported Al-Sheikh was close to agreeing a deal to buy the Championship club, only for him to announce on X it was "not true."

However, the Robins have revealed talks with Al-Sheikh did take place. CEO Tom Rawcliffe told a fans' forum this week: "Yes, we had conversations with him and we are up for investment but it has to be the right investment."

Rawcliffe said there had been overseas interest from both "US and Middle East-based backers" with billionaire owner Steve Lansdown open to selling the club he has been the majority shareholder of since 1996.

"It's no secret that we're looking for investment whether that is a minority or majority," added Rawcliffe. "It's going to happen at some stage but the Lansdown family are not going to be here forever and we've got to prepare ourselves. We don't know what's going to happen in the future.

"At the moment, there's nothing imminent, but we are well backed. We've had interest from all over the world.

"Predominantly with football clubs and who is buying right now it tends to be US or Middle East-based backers and so we've had interest from both of those, but we haven't come overly close."

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