Manchester United sale talks in new phase after Elliott Investment meeting

theguardian.com:

Manchester United’s potential sale has moved into its next phase after members of Elliott Investment Management, a US fund, were at Old Trafford on Thursday for the Europa League last-16 first-leg win over Real Betis.

It is understood this was the first face-to-face meeting regarding the Glazers’ proposed sale, with those from Elliott discussing their interest. The group does not want to buy the club but to offer finance to a buyer and has not yet decided which.

It could be Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Britain’s richest person, who has stated he may seek investment, but Elliott is open to any investor. It is thought representatives of Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani, the Qatari banker who also wishes to buy United, will meet the club executive next week.

The victory over Betis featured several faulty passes by David de Gea but Erik ten Hag has insisted there are no concerns regarding the goalkeeper’s kicking, although Manchester United’s manager admitted the 32-year-old goalkeeper was working on this area of his game.

“From today I can’t ignore it, but we have seen many games in which he did really well,” he said. “I don’t know what the reason was. There was a lot of wind, a different ball, probably he had some problems with that, but I know we can deal with it and he will do better Sunday [against Southampton].”

Ten Hag was pressed on whether he had an underlying concern with De Gea’s kicking. “David is working on that but I think we have seen in this season that he is improving and he will keep improving, I’m sure,” he said.

Wout Weghorst, after missing chances, scored United’s final goal against Betis, his first at home and only a second since his loan signing in January. Despite this modest return the forward has