Man Utd's farcical & prolonged takeover threatens to derail Erik ten Hag's rebuild - new signings and Marcus Rashford's contract are at stake

More than six months have passed since Manchester United began its takeover process, but as the end of the season approaches, fans, players and staff are still no closer to knowing who is going to be in control of the club. Will it be Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS group or the Glazer family with minority investment?

Since the board of directors released a statement late on November 22 saying it was "commencing exploring strategic alternatives for the club", United have not made any official comment on the process. All fans have been able to rely on for updates are unsourced reports based on leaks from interested parties.

They do not even know if the club will be sold at all. Avram Glazer, in an increasingly rare trip to watch the club he owns, was asked to give a clarification on the process at the Women’s FA Cup final in May. In keeping with the shadowy way his family have run United over the last 18 years, he stayed silent.

The sale has turned into a never-ending saga which has descended into a farce. It is a mysterious tale of two billionaires competing for the keys to English football’s most successful and best-supported club, while another set of billionaires drag their heels over their decision, further enraging and dividing the fanbase.

Worst of all, the image of the club that was for so long a model institution has been trampled over, threatening to unravel all the progress Erik ten Hag has made on the field this season.