Man United shares rise amid reported Saudi buyout bid
By JAMES ROBSON
AP Soccer Writer
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Shares of Premier League club Manchester United rose sharply ahead of the deadline for takeover bids and reported interest from Saudi Arabia. The stock rose almost 10% in U.S. trading Thursday. Potential buyers are expected to submit initial offers Friday to merchant bank Raine Group, which is handling the sale for United’s current owners the Glazer family. With a bid also expected to come from Qatar, reports of a move from Saudi Arabia could heighten the possibility of the sale price reaching an estimated $6 billion. British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe is the only contender to publicly confirm his intention to bid but there has been increased speculation about wider interest in recent days.