Man Utd takeover: Ratcliffe weighs up shocking new bid

Updated: 3 Oct 2023 10:22 BST
3 min read

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reconsidering his approach regarding the Manchester United takeover, according to reports.

The saga is still dragging on and there is seemingly no end in sight. INEOS billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe is, however, keen to finally be done with this story. Indeed, while things have gone quiet around Sheikh Jassim, Ratcliffe has been in the news lately.

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Last week, reports suggested that, in order to break the deadlock at last, Ratcliffe was considering restructuring his bid so as to avoid potential legal action being taken against him by Man Utd's minority shareholders. His original bid would have only seen him buy out the Glazers - and doing so gradually - without regard for other parties with a stake in the club.

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Now, fresh reports claim that the OGC Nice owner could launch an entirely new bid. According to the Daily Mail, Ratcliffe is weighing up 'ditching' his current proposal for the acquisition of a minority stake. Rather than a 100 or 69 per cent takeover, this would see Ratcliffe acquire 25 per cent of the club and would keep the Glazers firmly at the helm of the Red Devils.

Fret not, Man Utd fans

While this would certainly cause outrage in the Man Utd fanbase considering how unpopular the Glazers are, the INEOS chief still has designs on an eventual full takeover, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

He claims that this would be a temporary measure that would allow him to get involved in the club and potentially make a future acquisition easier. "INEOS position," Jacobs wrote on Twitter, "remains that they want control of MUFC. That means if they do seek a minority stake it will be with a view to eventual control, most likely by 2026."

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"Ratcliffe has always been flexible," he continued. "Since [the] process began he has offered multiple structures, including allowing some Glazers to stay. But it's always been made clear his end goal (ideally straight away but open to other options if it means winning) is control and a majority stake."