Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Man United deal close – source

Manchester United and Sir Jim Ratcliffe hope to announce their partnership during the international break, a source has told ESPN.

British billionaire Ratcliffe, chairman and chief executive of chemical company INEOS, is set to buy a 25% stake in the club for around £1.25 billion.

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Sources told ESPN the deal would also give Ratcliffe some influence over the football side of the business. Sir Dave Brailsford, director of sport at INEOS, is expected to be heavily involved.

It’s been almost a year since United’s American owners, the Glazer family, announced they were considering selling the club.

Ratcliffe and Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani have both submitted bids for a full takeover worth around £5bn.

But neither offer was accepted by the Glazers and they are instead expected to reach a deal with Ratcliffe that will allow them to retain their majority stake.

Supporters are staging a demonstration ahead of Saturday’s Premier League match against Luton Town at Old Trafford to protest the Glazers’ decision to remain in charge.

Sources told ESPN that Ratcliffe hopes to increase his stake to eventually become a majority shareholder, but the timeline for the 71-year-old to acquire more shares is unclear. The Glazers have been deeply unpopular owners with fans since their leveraged buyout in 2005.

A source told ESPN that once Ratcliffe becomes a shareholder in United, he would be willing to invest additional funds to improve both Old Trafford and the club’s Carrington training ground.

INEOS creditors were assured that Ratcliffe’s involvement in United would come from his personal wealth rather than company funds.