INEOS founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe is poised to complete his 25 per cent purchase at any time and the 71-year-old will, initially, work alongside the much-maligned Glazer family. That might not represent the fully-fledged overhaul that most wanted, but United can still look forward to a change in direction when it comes to footballing matters.
It has been 12 months since the Americans announced a strategic review of the ownership, and key appointments should follow Ratcliffe behind the scenes. Here are your latest takeover headlines and rumours.
United told how Ratcliffe will operate from upstairs
Former OGC Nice manager Adrian Ursea has offered an insight into INEOS’ ownership of a football club, explaining that Ratcliffe is unlikely to get in the way of Erik ten Hag.
The British billionaire, who is the founder of INEOS, is on the cusp of finalising his deal to secure a 25 per cent stake in United. Talks have been ongoing for several months and there is a growing understanding that an announcement could arrive within the coming days.
United will become the third football club under the INEOS umbrella, already owning both Nice and Swiss side FC Lausanne-Sport. INEOS purchased Nice in 2019 and the French outfit has been on a steady upward trajectory since, currently finding themselves second in Ligue 1 – and only a point behind Paris Saint-Germain.
