Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani is favourite to buy Manchester United as the Glazers made the final decision over the club’s future.

He was betting with British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe for the Red Devils’ takeover.

At one stage Ratcliffe’s Ineos company appeared to be out in front, but the Sheikh’s representatives presented an improved offer last week.

And according to Qatari newspaper Al-Watan, Sheikh Jassim has prevailed in his bidding war with Ratcliffe.

Al-Watan posted on Twitter on Monday night that Sheikh Jassim’s takeover bid has been a ‘success’ and that an ‘announcement of the deal [will be] soon’.

It is understood that Jassim is offering around £ 5 billion for the historic club, while the offer tabled by Ratcliffe’s Ineos was around 60 per cent of the Sheikh’s offer.

United’s takeover saga is now reaching its conclusion after what has been a long-winded seven months of speculation.

The Glazers first announced they were open to a sale all the way back in November.