Qatar's Sheikh Jassim submits fifth and final offer for Manchester United, say reports

The group sets a Friday deadline for a definitive answer from the club's owners, the Glazer family

Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium. Reuters

Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani has submitted an improved fifth and final bid to purchase Manchester United, according to reports.

The BBC and Press Association reported that Sheikh Jassim's latest offer is the last one and that he is looking for a definitive answer by this Friday.

The Qatari offer is said to be for 100 per cent of the club and the reports stated that Sheikh Jassim is ready to walk away from the process after Friday.

United had announced in November that the board was exploring strategic alternatives for the future, with a full sale one option being considered.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos Group are the other main party looking to acquire the famous club. Current owners the Glazer family have apparently valued Manchester United at £6 billion.

Reports earlier suggested that Ratcliffe was ahead in the race to acquire the club, with the Ineos Group willing to take just the majority stakes and not the entire club.

Manchester United fans will be hoping for a quick resolution of the club's ownership as the team seem to have turned a corner this season.

Under new manager Erik ten Hag, United won the League Cup, finished third in the Premier League and fought valiantly in the FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City.

City beat United in FA Cup final: Player ratings

MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Stefan Ortega – 7: Little chance with Fernandes’s penalty. Unflustered throughout and distributed the ball well. EPA

Kyle Walker – 6: Handled Rashford’s pace well and wasn’t really put under any pressure until Garnacho came on. Fluffed a clearance to let Rashford in with a chance. AP

Ruben Dias – 7: In almost total command of his back line. The Portuguese defender oozed authority and class. Getty

John Stones - 7: Another assured performance from the England international. Moved between the lines with ease and made a couple of vital interceptions. Reuters

Manuel Akanji – 7: Shook off a horrible tackle from Casemiro to put in a shift of unfussy quality and composure. AFP

Rodri – 7: Went close to doubling City’s lead with a clever header early on. Found himself outnumbered by United at times as the game went on but barely put a foot wrong. AFP

Bernardo Silva – 6: Didn’t get much change out of Luke Shaw but did keep the United left-back occupied to blunt his attacking threat. PA

Kevin De Bruyne – 8: A quiet first half but clocked up two assists and should have earned a penalty when he was brought down by Fred as he burst into the box. AFP

Ilkay Gundogan – 10: A masterclass from the City captain. His volleyed opener with his right foot was perfection and his second goal was a clever finish with his left. The definition of a big-game player. PA

Jack Grealish – 6: Didn’t make his usual impact as Wan-Bissaka kept him under wraps for the most part. Was unlucky to concede the penalty. Getty

Erling Haaland – 6: Kept United’s back line busy throughout but his finishing was below par. PA

SUBS: Phil Foden (On for De Bruyne, 76’) – 6: A lively cameo from the young Englishman. AFP

Nathan Ake (On for Grealish, 89’) – N/A. Aymeric Laporte (On for Walker, 90+4’) N/A. Reuters

MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David De Gea - 5: Stood stunned as Gundogan’s right footed volley flew past him. His long balls forward were found by blue shirts too often, but he struggled going short too. Should have done better for City’s second. Saved from De Bruyne just after hour mark. Getty

Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 7: Headed a ball across the City goal, which Grealish handled to concede a penalty. One of the few effective United players in the first half. Booked for a tackle on Grealish. AFP

Victor Lindelof - 6: Not alert enough for the opening goal and had his hands full with Haaland. Struck by an object thrown from fans after the United penalty, his outstretched leg sent a City ball heading towards his own goal 10 minutes after break. AFP

Raphael Varane - 6: Turned by Haaland who then shot for goal after 20. Had a chance just before break but wasn’t balanced to get a shot on target. It was the type of chance United needed to score to win. Stopped Haaland scoring in front of the 83,179 crowd. Getty

Luke Shaw - 6: Difficult for him as City were so effective pressing United back, but he spotted Silva’s runs and did well up against the Portuguese. AFP

Casemiro - 6: Man of the match in the League Cup final, he didn’t have the same impact though he smelled danger to clear a Haaland attack later in first half. Passes went astray, but he’s still a top performer and important for United in the near future. Getty

Fred - 5: Won the ball ahead of De Bruyne in the first half, made a silly challenge on the same player at the start of the second, which led to a free-kick and City’s second. Booked for a foul on Grealish. He’s been man of the match against City in the past. He was far from that on Saturday. AFP

Christian Eriksen - 5: Stopped a 22nd minute attack, but largely ineffective since he needs the ball to create. And his side didn’t have it enough. AP

Bruno Fernandes - 6: Careless to give the ball to Grealish after 5, but stepped up to finish the first-half penalty, side footing calmly past Ortega to level the score. Did well to get a cross late in game. PA

Marcus Rashford - 5: Central and on the left. Often had two defenders with him. Tame header towards goal midway through first half. Made key runs in difficult circumstances, ran back to win the ball after 66. Struck shot well moments later, but flew over. EPA

Jadon Sancho - 5: Played as a central striker at times and had a couple of half-chances and encouraging runs as he tried to weave through City, though it was difficult against Walker and Rodri. Booed by fans of his former club when he came off late in game. AP

SUBS: Alejandro Garnacho (Eriksen, 61') - 7: Arrival cheered by fans who knew their side needed to be bolder. Clever run, touch and shot wide on 72. United pushed on with him. Getty

Wout Weghorst (Sancho, 77') N/A: United had gone long for most of the match, so arrival was little surprise. Likely to be his final appearance for United. Reuters

Scott McTominay (Lindelof, 82') N/A: Came close to scoring near the end. AFP