Sir Jim Ratcliffe is expected to oversee an overhaul of Manchester United’s playing squad and staff once he acquires 25 per cent of the club as early as this week. However, Erik ten Hag’s job is reportedly secure, with the Dutchman highly rated throughout the club after a successful first season.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Ratcliffe could make changes to the United hierarchy quickly after completing a £1.4billion deal, which will see INEOS take over sporting operations.
Red Devils chief executive Richard Arnold and football director John Murtough are among those in the firing line, but Ten Hag’s job isn’t at risk as he navigates a disappointing start to his second campaign.
Ratcliffe is a known childhood United supporter and was at the Nou Camp when United famously beat Bayern Munich 2-1 in the 1999 Champions League final to achieve the first English treble.
He will undoubtedly join the majority of the United fanbase in backing Ten Hag to turn the club’s fortunes around on the pitch.
And the 53-year-old may have shot up Ratcliffe’s expectations by deciding to sell Fred in the summer transfer window rather than waiting for his contract to expire next year.
In 2019, Ratcliffe publicly blasted the Glazers’ running of United, paying particular attention to the club’s wastefulness in the transfer market, including the £50m deal to sign Fred.
“They haven’t got the manager selection right, haven’t bought well. They have spent the dumb money, which you see with players like Fred,” Ratcliffe told The Times.
“United have spent an immense amount since [Sir Alex] Ferguson left and been poor, to put it mildly. Shockingly poor, to be honest.
“We [at OGC Nice] have a different approach here to be moderately intelligent about it. Try to do it more grassroots, trying to locate young talent.
“Some clubs seem to have the ability to do that, Southampton and Lille. United have done it really poorly. They have lost the plot.”
