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Rob Dawson, reporter
Erik ten Hag will receive reassurances that he is part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s plans for Manchester United if the British billionaire reaches an agreement to manage the club’s sporting side, a source told ESPN.
Ratcliffe, founder of chemicals company INEOS, hopes to take a 25% stake in exchange for an investment worth about 1.3 billion pounds ($1.58 billion).
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He is keen to have an impact on football operations, but according to a source, any proposed changes would not include replacing Ten Hag.
The Dutchman led United to third place in the Premier League and won the Carabao Cup in his first season.
Despite a poor start to the current season during which United lost six of their 11 matches in all competitions, INEOS would prefer to keep Ten Hag as manager.
United are due to hold a board meeting on Thursday where the agreement with Ratcliffe and Ineos could be finalized.
Ratcliffe is aware, according to a source, that his bid for a minority stake may be unpopular with fans because it would keep the owners, the Glazer family, at the club.
He hopes that by taking a 25% stake in the club, it will open the door to a full takeover in the future, but at least in the short term, the Glazer family will retain their majority.
Fans were desperate to see the end of the Glazer family’s 18-year ownership when it was announced in November that the American family could be sold, but on Saturday it was revealed that the only bid for 100% control of the club from Sheikh Jassim had been withdrawn.
The Qatari businessman withdrew from the process last week, citing the Glazer family’s “imaginary” assessment as the main reason.
The value of Sheikh Jassim’s final offer was approximately 5 billion pounds, approximately 1 billion pounds less than the price requested by the Glazer family. If successful, Ratcliffe is expected to announce ambitious plans for United’s future in a bid to calm any supporter unrest. The proposals are likely to include a plan to redevelop Old Trafford which could see its capacity increased from 76,000 to 90,000.
