Sir Jim Ratcliffe ‘considering’ deal that would see Glazers keep Man Utd control

Man Utd train ahead of Galatasaray

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly mulling over the idea of only buying a minority stake in Manchester United in a move that would see the Glazer family retain control of the club. The INEOS chief has been in the running to buy the Red Devils over the last 10 months alongside Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, who is aiming to lead a full-scale takeover.

Ratcliffe has been fronting a proposal to buy a 50 per cent stake in United, but it seems as though he is open to changing his stance in order to speed up the process. A new deal has been put forward by the 70-year-old that would see him purchase just 25 per cent of the Red Devils while allowing the Glazers to keep control, according to Sky News.

Such a proposal would need to be pitched at a value that would be accepted by the Glazers, with the American family reportedly seeking around £6billion in exchange for the entire club. This would suggest that Ratcliffe could succeed in purchasing a 25 per cent stake in United with a new offer in the region of £1.5bn.

The potential structure of any bid remains unclear, with the report suggesting that it could be undertaken through a process known as a ‘tender offer’. It was reported last week that INEOS were looking to restructure their offer to buy United without specifying details of how this would be achieved.

JUST IN: Kompany puts £60k car up for sale – and Prem fans can buy Man City icon’s motor

It is also uncertain whether the purchase of a minority stake would open the door for Ratcliffe to take full control of United in the near future. It has previously been suggested that certain clauses may be inserted into a deal with INEOS to see Ratcliffe acquire the Glazers’ remaining shares after three years.

United fans would certainly be left angered if Ratcliffe succeeds in buying a 25 per cent stake in the club. A large portion of supporters are desperate to see the Glazers relinquish control of the Red Devils, with the American family having struggled to win hearts and minds since taking over in 2005.

Ratcliffe, meanwhile, is still understood to be keen on buying a majority stake but has pitched a restructured deal in order to resolve the ongoing impasse over United’s future. No concrete updates have been provided since the Glazers announced they were seeking ‘strategic alternatives’ for the club last November, while their preferred bidder is also yet to be established.

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Don’t miss…
Liverpool face more VAR tension as Jota’s wife goes on ‘rigged’ clown rampage[LATEST]
Arsenal star missing from training as Arteta gets update on trio including Saka[UPDATE]
Jadon Sancho discovers fate as Man Utd January transfer ‘plans’ come to light[GOSSIP]

Sheikh Jassim’s bid is also said to remain on the table and it is claimed that a renewed Qatari proposal cannot be ruled out as things stand. It seems as though all parties are frustrated over the lack of progress regarding a potential takeover, with the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST) urging the Glazers to speed things up in a statement last month.

It read: “The news of these delays and further prolonged uncertainty are of great concern. Erik [ten Hag] needs to know what resources he has to spend so he can make the signings the club needs, and the whole management resources of the club need to be focused on supporting him in that.

“That cannot be the case with the future ownership so unclear. We are also unable to move forward on major investment projects, not least the stadium redevelopment as we remain in limbo. We are in dire need of new investment, which undoubtedly requires new ownership. MUST, along with United fans all around the world, are calling for this process to be concluded without further delay.”

Want the latest Premier League news as we publish it on Express Sport? Join our Facebook group by clicking here.

Source: Read Full Article