INEOS representatives Sir Dave Brailsford and Jean-Claude Blanc ‘meet Man United executives at Old Trafford’… as Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s £1.25bn investment for a 25 per cent stake of the club edges closer

• Ratcliffe’s stake in the club is expected to be confirmed the week after next 
• Brailsford and Blanc reportedly met with executives as a deal edges closer
  There’s a lot of anger at Man United – it’s them against the world! Listen to It’s All Kicking Off

Manchester United executives reportedly met with Sir Dave Brailsford and Jean-Claude Blanc of INEOS for a meeting at Old Trafford.

It comes as Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s £1.25bn investment for a 25 per cent stake club in the club comes closer to becoming reality, despite delays meaning that the deal is now expected to be announced the week after next.

Brailsford, director of sport at INEOS, and chief executive Blanc, are set to hold significant roles at the club once the minority stake has been approved.  

The Athletic have reported that the pair met up with United executives including football director John Murtough and interim chief executive Patrick Stewart, on Thursday.

It’s said that the meetings ‘represented a significant step forward as part of a ‘fact-finding mission’ ahead of the deal being completed. 

INEOS representatives Sir Dave Brailsford (left) and Jean-Claude Blanc (centre) met up with Manchester United executives ahead of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s (right) deal to buy the club 

Sir Jim Ratcliffe ‘s £1.25bn investment for a 25 per cent stake club in the club is edging closer, despite delays meaning that the deal is now expected to be announced the week after next

Manchester United fans are keen to seal the deal be confirmed as soon as possible

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Brailsford was performance director at British Cycling, while Blanc held roles as chief executive at Juventus and marketing executive of Paris Saint-Germain – before joining INEOS last December.

Blanc has previously been linked with taking the chief executive role on a permanent basis, but it is unclear whether the terms of Ratcliffe’s deal would allow him to insert one of his own men in that role.

Stewart took the role on an interim basis following Richard Arnold’s departure from the club. 

They previously joined Ratcliffe in visiting Old Trafford in March when they were weighing up whether to bid for the club

Mail Sport understands officials had hoped to broadcast the arrival of the Ineos billionaire ahead of Tuesday’s Bayern Munich fixture at Old Trafford.

However, sources in the US have disclosed that ‘legal structural’ matters have pushed the date back.

Should matters remain unresolved the upcoming Christmas break could push the announcement into the new year, although those involved hope that is not the case.

The British billionaire will purchase 25 per cent of the A-shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange as well as 25 per cent of the Glazers’ B-shares which have greater voting rights. He will pump an additional £245m into the club to upgrade Old Trafford and Carrington.

The new group may not be in place in time for the upcoming January transfer window

Blanc has been linked with the chief executive role at Old Trafford, which is held by Patrick Stewart on an interim basis after Richard Arnold (pictured) left the club 

Following the announcement, approval is expected to take around six to eight weeks, which means the new group may not be in place in time for the January transfer window.

He beat off competition from Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al Thani, who pulled out of what was a two-horse race for the Premier League giants in October.

More than a year has now passed since the Glazers said they were seeking investment and open to a full sale.

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