Man Utd takeover: Sir Jim to invest MORE than Sheikh Jassim pledged

Stuart Telford

• 10 Nov 2023 20:46 GMT
• 3 min read

Sir Jim Ratcliffe will invest more in Manchester United that Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani had pledged despite only buying 25 per cent of the club.

Sir Jim and Sheikh Jassim emerged as the two frontrunners to buy United when the Glazer family first decided to invite bids last November, with both understood to have lodged bids of more than £5 billion.

But with the Glazers dragging their feet, Jassim walked, leaving Ratcliffe to negotiate a new deal whereby be would by a 25 per cent stake in the club for £1.3bn - valuing it at £5.2bn.

READ: Man Utd takeover breakthrough! Ratcliffe deal to be completed on Monday

The INEOS chief, who was previously the UK's richest man and also owns Ligue 1 side Nice, will assume 'sporting control' at Old Trafford, but he will also put more of his fortune into the team he supports once in situ.

"Ratcliffe will inject £245 million into the club from his own personal funds before the end of the year," reports The Sun's Cosmo Teare.

Ratcliffe to invest £1.6bn

"However, it is believed a much bigger investment is needed to improve United's Carrington training ground as well as funding the academy and men's and women's first-teams.

"Ratcliffe is expected to invest £1.6 billion into the club on top of the [£1.3bn] he paid [for his 25 per cent stake]."

READ: Ten Hag admits Man Utd 'are not happy' with Rashford's poor form

Jassim was previously expected to invest £1.4bn towards the club's infrastructure should if his proposal had been accepted.

Ratcliffe has been linked with wholesale changes at Old Trafford, but Erik ten Hag can breathe easy despite the club's difficult start to the season, with the British billionaire believing the Dutchman needs time.

There could be wholesale changes in his playing squad, however, with Jadon Sancho, Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay among those with uncertain futures at Old Trafford.

Jean-Clair Todibo and Khephren Thuram are among the more likely players to follow Ratcliffe to Manchester from Nice.