Man Utd get Sir Jim Ratcliffe investment boost with announcement date scheduled - more than a year after Glazers put club up for sale

It has been over 12 months since the Glazer family opened themselves up to takeover and investment offers at Old Trafford. A protracted saga has taken a number of twists and turns since then, with Ratcliffe – Britain’s richest man and a boyhood Red Devils fan – ready to push through a £1.25 billion ($1.6bn) share purchase.

According to The Independent, that deal will be ratified before the busy festive period, with Ratcliffe reaching a compromise with the Glazers that could allow him to launch a full takeover bid at some point in the future.

Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim had also been in the running at one stage, but grew disillusioned with how long discussions and decisions were taking. He withdrew his offer on October 14. Ratcliffe will acquire a minority stake, while also taking on significant control of football operations.

It is claimed that Ratcliffe is prepared to make £245m ($310m) available for improvements to club infrastructure, with personnel changes already taking place behind the scenes as United prepare to spend again in the January transfer window after making an inconsistent start to the 2023-24 campaign in Premier League and Champions League competition.