The anticipated declaration about Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s acquisition of a 25% stake in Manchester United is expected to be made public before this year comes to a close, according to Football Insider.
Ratcliffe, a British billionaire and the brain behind INEOS Group, is on the verge of securing a quarter of the prestigious football club for an estimated £1.4m, triumphing over Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, a notable figure in Qatari banking.
Football Insider has disclosed that the initial phase of Ratcliffe’s acquisition journey is slated to be unveiled ‘within weeks’, positioning the transaction for completion by the year’s end.
With 71 years of life and experience, Ratcliffe has appraised Manchester United at an impressive £6bn, a figure that overshadows the £1bn that Sheikh Jassim was reportedly willing to invest for a complete takeover.
Post-acquisition, it is anticipated that Ratcliffe will assume authority over the club’s sporting decisions. However, there have been recent reports suggesting that Erik ten Hag, the team’s head coach, expects to retain his decisive role in transfer matters.
Although Ratcliffe’s influence at Old Trafford might not be significantly felt until the next season, he is reportedly eager for the club to be proactive in the January transfer market.
When questioned about these developments during a pre-match press conference for the recent Premier League game against Sheffield United, Ten Hag remarked, “So, at this moment, I’m not involved, so I don’t know. What I know are the agreements I made once I signed this contract.”
The head coach emphasized his focus on his current responsibilities, saying, “And until I hear anything, I just keep focusing on my job and focusing in this structure and focusing on my job. And that is winning games and get the best out of the season.”
For a time, Sheikh Jassim appeared to be in the lead for the acquisition, until internal disagreements within the Glazer family, the current owners, surfaced, revealing differing opinions on the future direction of the club.
Post-takeover, rumors are circulating that Richard Arnold could be ousted from his CEO position at Manchester United, with Ratcliffe presumably having different plans for the role.
While there have been speculations about Ten Hag’s future at the club and potential replacements, including former Chelsea manager Graham Potter, the consensus seems to be that Ten Hag’s position is secure, especially in light of the team’s recent successful streak.
Following three consecutive wins across various competitions, Manchester United is now gearing up for a triumphant fourth victory as they prepare to host Manchester City for the much-anticipated Manchester derby on Sunday afternoon.
