Man Utd takeover news: Jim Ratcliffe stance on Chelsea copy as Rasmus Hojlund nets beauty
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is close to finalising his investment into Manchester United and Express Sport is on hand to provide live updates throughout the day.
Football Digest: Ratcliffe closes in on deal for 25% stake in Man Utd
Manchester United chiefs are set to meet on Thursday and could vote to decide whether to accept Sir Jim Ratcliffe's investment offer. Ratcliffe has proposed to buy a 25 per cent stake in the club worth around £1.4billion to put an end to an 11-month process.
Qatari billionaire Sheikh Jassim pulled out of the running over the weekend after failing to agree a full purchase. The news of Ratcliffe's impending arrival has been hit with a mixed reaction and Express Sport will bring you all the latest developments throughout the day.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe questioned Manchester United's transfer policy during his visit to Old Trafford and Carrington earlier this year, according to reports.
The Guardian claim Ratcliffe was critical of the club's recruitment in recent years, pointing out Casemiro as an example.
United splashed £70m to buy Casemiro, now 31, from Real Madrid last summer.
He enjoyed a superb first season at Old Trafford but has fallen off a cliff in his second campaign.
Manchester United icon Andy Cole is sceptical about whether Sir Jim Ratcliffe's 25 per cent stake will make the required change at the club.
He told Betfred: “I’ve not given it much thought, to be honest, because everybody was expecting the club to be sold in its entirety.
"Will a 25 per cent ownership from Sir Jim Ratcliffe get Manchester United back to where they’re supposed to be? We need to wait and see.
"What can Sir Jim influence with 25 per cent ownership? Will more money be spent on transfers? Can the stadium be redeveloped? Nobody knows.
“Do you believe that a Manchester United fan is going to be delighted that Sir Jim could be coming into the club with a 25 per cent share? I don’t think they would be excited because so many other things have to be done at the club first.
"Manchester United need to be competing at a higher level than they are doing currently, so does a 25 per cent share mean that they’re going to go back to the very top? I’m not quite sure that it does.”
Football finance expert Rob Wilson told Saxo: "The Ratcliffe bid comes down to the basics of finance.
"The Glazers clearly want more than the perceived market value of Manchester United football club, and it presents the idea that Sheikh Jassim’s bid was undervaluing the organisation.
"The Ratcliffe bid allows Jim to have a smaller investment at this stage and then look at using his knowledge investment to see where the club can go in the next five years, and I imagine he will then be able to take a bigger stake as things unfold.
"The reality is that the Sir Jim, INEOS bid will start with 25 per cent and then will look to increase over the next five to 10 years depending on what the Glazers decide to do with the asset.
"A lot will also depend on sporting and financial performance of the organisation and requirements for any stadium, redesign, maintenance or re-development."
Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira has given an insight into how Sir Jim Ratcliffe works.
Vieira had a two-year spell managing Nice, the French club that Ratcliffe owns.
And his verdict on Ratcliffe appears to be good news for Ten Hag.
Vieira told FourFourTwo: "He’d never interfere with my work. We’d talk about football when we met, about the team and our lives, but he’s not an owner who will get involved too much and prevent the manager from doing his job.
"His ambitions and expectations are high, so you know where you stand, but you can do your job freely."
The Manchester United legend claimed on his YouTube channel in June that Sheikh Jassim's takeover was set to be completed.
Fast forward four months and the Qatari has pulled out and Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to win the race.
Ferdinand said at the time: "The Manchester United takeover is imminent.
"We are hearing the Qatari bid is the one that has been accepted, the one that is imminent and the one that is going to go through. Hallelujah, man. I cannot wait."
Concerns are reportedly growing among Manchester United staff who are said to be fearing the worst following news of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's expected investment.
The Mail reports that Sheikh Jassim's offer was the preferred option among most of the staff.
It is feared Ratcliffe will waste no time in employing his own people in a sporting overhaul.
Sheikh Jassim, however, was expected to give current employees the chance to prove they have got what it takes.
Hello and welcome to today's live blog bringing you everything you need to know about Sir Jim Ratcliffe's impending investment into Manchester United.
Stay close to this page throughout Tuesday to keep up to date with all the latest updates.
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