Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s deal to buy a 25 per cent stake in Manchester United is facing a delay, reports say.
The 70-year-old is prepared to invest £1.4billion, 12 months after he’d missed out on buying Chelsea to American businessman Todd Boehly.
News of Ratcliffe and his United deal broke last week.
According to the Daily Mail, however, there’s now a possiblity the arrangement won’t be finalised in time for the January transfer window.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe might not be at Man Utd by the end of the year
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Lawyers are said to be continuing to work on the finer details of what is a ‘complex agreement’.
And they have warned it could take weeks to sort out, in a blow to anybody hoping the situation would be swiftly resolved.
Should that happen, requirements from the Premier League and New York Stock Exchange would make it ‘unlikely’ that Ratcliffe would be in at Old Trafford by the end of the year.
Regarding the club’s transfer plans for January, the Red Devils seem to be content with what they currently have.
It’s said United aren’t planning any ‘major moves’, having spent a significant amount back in the summer.
Mason Mount was the first player to arrive.
United spent £55million on landing the midfielder, who moved from Chelsea having struggled to get a new contract at Stamford Bridge.
The Red Devils then proceeded to raid Inter Milan for goalkeeper Andre Onana, with the shot-stopper arriving as a replacement for club icon David De Gea.
United declined getting involved in any bidding war for Harry Kane, with Rasmus Hojlund recruited as an alternative.
Turkey goalkeeper Altay Bayindir arrived from Fenerbahce to challenge Onana for a starting berth.
Jonny Evans arrived on a free transfer, with Sofyan Amrabat then drafted in on loan from Fiorentina on transfer deadline day.
United know they must comply with Financial Fair Play regulations, too.
And any potential signings will be dependent on players leaving – with Harry Maguire one potential candidate to be sold.
Maguire turned down a move to West Ham in the summer because he wanted to stay and fight for his place.
He did, however, recently admit that he could perform a U-turn.
“I am not going to sit here all my life and play once a month,” said the defender.
“If it carries on I am sure myself and the club will sit down and have a chat about things.
“It’s not my decision whether I start the next game for United or not.
“In a couple of weeks, I’ll go back and find out.
“I have belief in my ability and it’s been tough. I want to play games and feel important to the club.
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The Glazers are hopeful of securing investment from Sir Jim Ratcliffe at Man Utd
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“At the moment, I haven’t been playing anywhere near as much as I would like. That is the bottom line.”
Ratcliffe has managed to edge ahead of Qatari billionaire Sheikh Jassim.
The mysterious figure, who likes to keep a low profile away from the public eye, withdrew his offer for United last week.
There have been whispers he could yet make one last-ditch offer in order to buy out the Glazers and remove them from power.
However, the publication says that won’t be the case and Sheikh Jassim isn’t likely to change his mind on the matter.
Harry Maguire could leave Man Utd in the January transfer window
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Meanwhile, former United star Dimitar Berbatov is hopeful Ratcliffe can help turn the club around.
“The Glazers buying the club started out as a good purchase and now people no longer like them and don’t want them to be there,” he told Betfair.
“We’ve been waiting for the club to be sold, it hasn’t happened and now we’ve seen the news about Jim Ratcliffe.
“We’ll have to see how it works out. We need to find out who will be making the final decisions, whether it’ll be Jim Ratcliffe or the Glazers.
“I’m curious to hear what Man United fans think about it. Everyone is waiting for the club to be run better and if Jim Ratcliffe is the answer then we need to wait and see how it all unfolds.
“Looking at what it could mean for the club and what will need be addressed, on the pitch, it will still come down to who Erik ten Hag likes and who he wants to bring in.”
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