Raine Group - the investment firm in charge of the sale - set a soft deadline of 10pm last Friday (February 17) for official interest to be formalised.
Sheikh Jassim - the chairman of one of Qatar’s biggest banks and son of former Qatari prime minister Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani - was the first to table his offer.
Less than an hour or so later, British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a boyhood Man United fan, was the next to put his money where his mouth is.
Ahead of any further developments, we take a look at the reported wealth of Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim - compared to Newcastle United and other Premier League owners.
The Magpies take on Man United in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley tomorrow.

13. 10th: West Ham - David Sullivan, Daniel Kretinsky
Reported net worth - £6bn | Getty Images

14. 9th: Fulham - Shahid Khan
Reported net worth: £7.4bn | AFP via Getty Images

15. 8th: Liverpool - John W. Henry & Tom Werner
Reported net worth: £8.1bn Photo: OLI SCARFF

16. 7th: Aston Villa - Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris
Reported net worth: £9.7bn Photo: Kevin Dietsch


