07 November 2023 , 13:00
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Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been holding video calls with Joel Glazer to discuss strategic changes at Manchester United.
The INEOS chief expects his £1.3bn offer to buy 25 per cent of the club to be approved in the coming weeks and he is proactively laying down plans with co-chairman Glazer, according to the Manchester Evening News.
It is almost a year since the Glazers confirmed they were “exploring strategic alternatives” for United but the saga has dragged on with the secretive Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim recently withdrawing his interest.
That paved the way for INEOS to move ahead for a minority purchase, disappointing supporters who were desperate for the Glazers to sell their entire stake.
INEOS are expected to take charge of football operations at Old Trafford, allowing them to make final recruitment decisions. They may also have the ability to make changes to key off-field personnel with chief executive Richard Arnold and football director John Murtough reportedly at risk.
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It is unclear whether the INEOS group are in favour of Erik ten Hag remaining as head coach after a shocking start to the season in which United have lost five of their opening 11 Premier League games and are clinging on to hopes of progressing from their Champions League group.
United travel to Copenhagen tomorrow evening knowing they must again win to stand any chance after losing their opening two games against Bayern Munich and Galatasaray.
Ten Hag, who has been backed to the tune of £400m in the transfer market since arriving in the summer of 2022, has a host of injuries to contend with Brazilian midfielder Casemiro joining Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw on the treatment table. But Marcus Rashford and Victor Lindelof have trained after missing out on the last gasp win away to Fulham on Saturday lunchtime.
Meanwhile, I NEOS’ cycling team is part of a group plotting a breakaway tour that could be financially backed by Newcastle United’s majority owners, the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund.
Ineos are one of five teams part of the “One Cycling” group that is aiming to introduce a Champions League-style revamp that would completely alter the sport’s calendar. It comes amid increasing tensions with ASO, the organiser of the Tour de France, and concerns over the financial sustainability of teams.
ASO are resistant to the idea but they already have a working relationship with the PIF via the Dakar Rally motorsport event.