SIR JIM RATCLIFFE’S £1.35billion 25 per cent takeover of Manchester United has been delayed, according to reports.
The 70-year-old’s bid was initially expected to be given the green light in a Red Devils board meeting this week.
Sheikh Jassim withdrew from the race last week, clearing the path for Ratcliffe to agree a minority stake with the Glazer family.
But according to the Telegraph, there are still finer details with Ratcliffe’s bid that need to be ironed out.
They claim that a deal is still expected within the next fortnight, however, with Ratcliffe keen to get started.
The Ineos chief wants to be granted control of football operations at United.
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He is hoping to have attained control ahead of the January transfer window.
Ratcliffe is claimed to be an admirer of under-pressure boss Erik ten Hag.
But the futures of Richard Arnold and John Murtough under Ratcliffe remain unclear.
The British tycoon still hopes to complete a full takeover one day.
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It’s claimed that he wants clauses attached to his initial bid that lay the path for a future offer.
Prior to any deal with Ratcliffe going through, the Glazer family possess 96 per cent of the voting rights on United’s board, despite owning 69 per cent of the club.
Their voting rights are expected to be “diluted” following Ratcliffe’s arrival.
SunSport revealed that Old Trafford employees had been gearing up for Sheikh Jassim to complete his full takeover as recently as this month.
They were then left stunned by the news that the Qatari had pulled out.
A number of the six strong Glazer family members on the United board were happy to sell to Sheikh Jassim entirely.
But Joel Glazer, in control of the process, was in favour of keeping majority shares in the club, unless Jassim upped his bid again.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
