Man United’s move for Jude Bellingham and other transfer plans in limbo amid takeover uncertainty

Manchester United‘s move for Jude Bellingham – along with the rest of their summer transfer activity – is surrounded by uncertainty as the takeover saga continues.

Sportsmail understands that Erik ten Hag wants the Premier League giants to battle neighbours City and Real Madrid for the England star, who is expected to leave Borussia Dortmund this summer.

But sources have disclosed that United’s planning is being hamstrung by uncertainty over who will own the club in the summer – and whether a takeover will go through in time.

As this newspaper reported last November, City believe they are in a good position, and little has happened since to change that stance. 

Relations between them and Dortmund are very strong and were helped by the deal which brought Erling Haaland to the Etihad Stadium last summer. Initial conversations have been held.

Jude Bellingham is likely to be the subject of a mass bidding war between Europe’s biggest clubs

Erik ten Hag wants Manchester United to battle Man City and Real Madrid for the England star

Liverpool have now withdrawn from the battle, deciding instead to use what funds they have available on a rebuild, rather than on what – at more than £110m – would be a marquee signing.

United are keen on the 19-year-old, all-action midfielder, who would command a British record fee. But the situation at Old Trafford is clouded by the ongoing sale and investment process.

As reported on Wednesday, third and final bids have been asked for by Raine, the US bank managing the process for the club’s owners, the Glazer family.

A deadline of April 28 has been set but it remains to be seen whether a full sale, with offers from Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani and British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe tabled, will prevail or whether the Glazers will instead go for investment in exchange for a partial stake.

Extensive due diligence would also need to be carried out before any deal could be concluded. That means that there would be a race of time for new owners to be in place before the opening of the summer transfer window, which is expected to be in early June.

As revealed in the Simon Jones’ newsletter on Tuesday, United are looking at a mass summer clear-out, with up to 13 players set for an exit.

That group includes the likes of Harry Maguire, Anthony Elanga and Eric Bailly.

However, it is unlikely that such a fire-sale would raise the funds needed to bring Bellingham to Old Trafford.

Sheikh Jassim has already said he will invest heavily in the club and the community and it is likely that a substantial transfer kitty would be handed over to ten Hag should his bid be successful. 

However, chances of that being in time for the summer window depend on a bidder being chosen not long after April 28 and subsequent around-the-clock work to conclude the deal.