EXCLUSIVE: Ratcliffe to hand Man Utd huge cash injection to soften FFP constraints

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 9 Jan 2024 10:08 GMT
• 3 min read

Exclusive

Sir Jim Ratcliffe will look to fortify Manchester United's financial position this year by injecting personal funds into the club, FootballTransfers has been told.

The British billionaire and Ineos owner, whose partial stake in the Premier League side was announced on Christmas Eve, has expressed his intention to create more wriggle room under Financial Fair Play regulations. This would allow the Red Devils to increase their allowable losses from £15 million to £105 million over the relevant accounting period.

This strategic financial manoeuvre is expected to provide the Red Devils with a substantial boost in its spending capabilities this year, potentially allowing the club to invest between £200-300 million on player acquisitions - though the actual amount will vary depending on if United qualify for the Champions League or Europa League.

We are told that Ratcliffe has a vision that involves building a strong British core within the squad, particularly under the age of 25.

The emphasis is not only on homegrown talent but also on acquiring Premier League-proven players, believing a mix of both will strengthen the club’s position for the immediate and distant future.

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Among the players reportedly on Ineos' radar are talented winger Michael Olise, who has a release of £60million that will become in the next transfer window, and Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, a name that FootballTransfers first revealed to be a Man Utd target as far back as the summer when the Ineos group were drawing closer to an overall agreement.

This injection of personal funds by Ratcliffe comes at a crucial time for Man Utd, offering a lifeline to navigate Financial Fair Play constraints and allowing the club to be more competitive in the transfer market. At present, United need to move players on to bring fresh faces in.

We are told that some of the biggest sales are likely to happen in the summer. Football director John Murtough flew to Saudi Arabia recently to speak with clubs over possible player departures from Old Trafford, to secure such deals early in the next window