Ineos owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim have submitted improved bids to buy Manchester United.

The two parties, the only publicly-declared bidders, met with United officials this month.

Prospective owners had until 21:00 GMT on Wednesday to submit second, revised bids for the club.

Ineos want to buy the combined Glazer shareholding of about 69%, but the Qataris are targeting 100% of the club.

Both are understood to have held positive meetings while visiting Old Trafford and United's training ground.

The size of their initial bids has not been disclosed (with reports both are in the region of £4.5bn), but they were clearly far below the £5-6bn valuation that the Glazers have established - a figure that would smash the record £3.71bn paid for a sports team.