Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s 25% buyout of Manchester United should be confirmed extremely soon – with just one “BUT”.
The Old Trafford board have approved the deal with Ratcliffe and his INEOS company.
However, The Athletic’s David Ornstein suggested tonight: “Premier League owners’ & directors’ test likely to take 6-8wk.”
Sir Jim Ratcliffe's imminent 25% takeover will reportedly involve taking control of ALL Manchester United's teams.
That means the senior men's women's and academy set-ups will fall under the INEOS umbrella.
Ratcliffe will bring in his own picks for key off-the-field positions.
Gary Neville's fierce criticism of Manchester United over the timing of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's 25% takeover has been backed by frustrated fans.
Nev can't believe the INEOS owner's expected takeover will be completed on Christmas Eve.
But some supporters claim it's typical of the way the Red Devils have "fallen off so bad".
One posted: "It's quite funny they are kind of saying, 'Here is a Christmas present', like fans care about that after the amount of time terrible ownership has persisted.
"I'm happy it's before the January window (If all required things are actually in place for that to be impacted)."
Another said: "For a big club like us it’s insane how bad we are run."
But a third was puzzled why today would be such a shocking choice.
He wrote: "Just to understand why is this bad timing haven’t you been waiting for this? I get it’s Christmas Eve but even so a lot of people don’t do a lot that day."
Manchester United legend Gary Neville blasted his old club for rounding off a "disgraceful" year with "awful timing" over Sir Jim Ratcliffe's takeover.
Neville's astonishing rant as nervous fans prepared for an official announcement on Christmas Eve night.
The ex-England defender posted on X: "Manchester United 2023 has been a disgrace to the end.
"The timing of this is truly awful and no functioning organisation would even think about it.
"Anyway all the very best to Jim Radcliffe (sic Ratcliffe) and I hope he can somehow work out a way to get the club right again and back to being something respectable on and off the pitch."
Britain's richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe - worth a staggering £15billion- and his Manchester United takeover is set to be announced TODAY.
The billionaire businessman wants in after the Glazer family put the club up for sale - as long as it's for the right price.
United announced last year that the Glazers were “looking to explore strategic alternatives” for the club. Ratcliffe, 70, is a lifelong Red Devils fan and it was revealed in the summer he was interested in taking over the club.
A spokesperson said of his investment in United: "
"This is not about the money that has been spent or not spent.
"Jim is looking at what can be done now and, knowing how important the club is to the city, it feels like the time is right for a reset."
Back in April 2022, Ratcliffe put in an offer for Chelsea after speaking with former Blues chairman Bruce Buck, when sanctions placed on Roman Abramovich triggered a fire sale. Ratcliffe is a petrochemicals tycoon who at his peak was worth around £21BILLION.
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is heavy favourite to be the next Prem boss sacked.
The Dutchman sunk from 6/5 before Saturday's 2-0 defeat at West Ham to 17/20.
Crystal Palace manager is Roy Hodgson at 5/1, with Burnley's Vincent Kompany at 11/1.
And after dropping to eighth, United are now 6/1 in the Betfair odds for a top-four finish.
BETFAIR ODDS:
Erik ten Hag 17/20
Roy Hodgson 5/1
Vincent Kompany 11/1
Mauricio Pochettino 12/1
David Moyes 14/1
Eddie Howe 16/1
Sir Jim Ratcliffe's arrival at Old Trafford could be announced before this evening, reports suggest.
The INEOS owner has big plans for the rest of the season once his 25% buy-out is completed.
And in the last half-hour it's been suggested the deal with be confirmed today.
That would be an unexpected but massive early Christmas present for United fans as most seem fed-up with the long-running regime of the Glazers.
Red Devils’ fans appear underwhelmed to say the least at being linked with Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee.
One said: “Why buy another young striker to play alongside another young striker? This recruitment team mannn 🤦🏽♂️.”
Another added: “Nah wtf. He’s so average.”
A third replied: “Instead of focusing on the midfield that can’t create a single chance for strikers, we are in for another striker 😂😂😂.”
And a fourth responded: “How about a made striker like Ivan Toney.”
Claims Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s 25% takeover at Old Trafford will be clinched today drew a mixed response from fans as one pleaded: “Don’t play with my heart at Christmas.”
A rollercoaster saga – since owners the Glazers revealed 13 months ago they could partly or totally sell out – has left many supporters sceptical.
One posted: “I don’t believe it until they announce it officially.”
Another stressed it was a Sunday AND Christmas Eve as he wrote: “Do you realize that no one is working today?”
And a third said: “Please don’t play with my heart it’s almost Christmas.”
Manchester United fans have lambasted their club amid reports linking them with a move for Bologna forward Joshua Zirkzee.
Erik ten Hag's attackers have struggled to find the back of the net so far this season, with Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Anthony Martial and Rasmus Hojlund mustering just four Premier League goals between them.
Hojlund, 20, joined from Atalanta for £72million in the summer and scored five goals in Man Utd's disappointing Champions League campaign.
But he is still yet to net in 14 Premier League appearances - the latest of which came in a dismal 2-0 defeat to West Ham on Saturday.
According to Sport1, Man Utd are now considering an approach for Dutchman Zirkzee, 22, to improve Ten Hag's options.
The ex-Bayern Munich man swapped Germany for Italy last year and has scored 10 times in 37 appearances for Bologna.
But Man Utd's attempts to acquire Zirkzee could prove complicated.
Bayern have a £19m buy-back option on him and a 50 per cent sell-on clause should he leave Bologna.
It is also estimated Man Utd would have to pay between £30m and £35m to steal him away from the Serie A side.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is tipped to instigate a major shake-up of the Manchester United squad.
The INEOS owner has been backed to complete his 25$ buy-out today by Sky News city editor Mark Kleinman.
And one short-term result could be the January departure of outcast winger Jadon Sancho.
Manchester United fans can expect an exciting start to the New Year if Sir Jim Ratcliffe does officially acquire his 25% stake in the club on Christmas Eve.
Sky Spots' Mark Kleinman said Ratcliffe's INEOS Sport will "take control of the football side of the club" today.
BREAKING: Sir Jim Ratcliffe's 25% buy-out at Manchester United will reportedly be completed today.
That's according to Sky News' Mark Kleinman as disgruntled Red Devils' fans look for some Christmas cheer.
Scott McTominay's girlfriend Cam Reading got into the festive spirit as she enjoyed a night out with friends.
She went braless and stunned in a low-cut black dress and big heels.
Cam hit the town and partied with pals, posing for a series of photos she shared on social media.
She beamed from ear to ear and hit the DJ booth, while posing with her friends in one snap.
Cam shared the post on Instagram alongside the caption: "Getting into the Christmas spirit."
The investment management director stunned her fellow United wages with Estelle Bergkamp showing some love.
The girlfriend of Donny van de Beek commented: "Gorgeoussssss 🤍"
Luke Shaw's partner Anouska Santos was also amazed, writing: "Wowweeowowwwe!!!!"
A fan said: "Well you are divine." And another added: "Wow!!!! You are perfect angel ❤️"
The Premier League title race is hotting up and Arsenal have put down a marker by guaranteeing their spot on top of the tree for Christmas Day, write ALEX SMITH and JOSHUA HALL.
In 30 Prem seasons, the Xmas leaders have ended up lifting the title 16 times - so that's 51.6 per-cent.
No team has been top on December 25 more than Manchester United's seven times.
Eleven teams in total have been first at Christmas, including four who have never won the league such as, Norwich, Leeds, Aston Villa and Newcastle.
And only Villa have not managed to finish in the top four when top, coming sixth in 1998/99.
The biggest advantage ever at Christmas was Man City in 2017/18, who sat 13 points clear at the top while Pep Guardiola opened his presents - on his way to winning the title with 100 points.
1992: Norwich City - finished 3rd
1993: Manchester United - finished 1st
1994: Blackburn Rovers - finished 1st
1995: Newcastle United - finished 2nd
1996: Liverpool - finished 4th
1997: Manchester United - finished 2nd
1998: Aston Villa - finished 6th
1999: Leeds United - finished 3rd
2000: Manchester United - finished 1st
2001: Newcastle United - finished 4th
2002: Arsenal - finished 2nd
2003: Manchester United - finished 3rd
2004: Chelsea - finished 1st
2005: Chelsea - finished 1st
2006: Manchester United - finished 1st
2007: Arsenal - finished 3rd
2008: Liverpool - finished 2nd
2009: Chelsea - finished 1st
2010: Manchester United - finished 1st
2011: Manchester City - finished 1st
2012: Manchester United - finished 1st
2013: Liverpool - finished 2nd
2014: Chelsea - finished 1st
2015: Leicester City - finished 1st
2016: Chelsea - finished 1st
2017: Manchester City - finished 1st
2018: Liverpool - finished 2nd
2019: Liverpool - finished 1st
2020: Liverpool - finished 3rd
2021: Manchester City - finished 1st
2022: Arsenal - finished 2nd
Tom Cleverley explained how a dressing-down from Alex Ferguson sorted him out.
The midfielder exclusively told Labdrokes Fanzone: "He managed to become someone in my life who you just did not want to let down.
"You'd run through brick walls for him, you'd want to catch his eye, you wanted to impress him... that's the kind of figure he was.
"Once I got a telling off - to put it lightly - in an cup game at Stamford Bridge.
I was playing out of position; he put me on the left-hand side and I sort of hinted at that and got a right old hammering from him.
"I was struggling to get into the game and I put it down to the fact he was playing me out of position.
"Put it this way, it was the last time I ever did that because he was absolutely right in his response, which was that I was lucky to be playing at all!
"I just feel incredibly lucky that I played for him as many times as I did, and one of the things I'm very proud of is that I played in his last game in charge, which is definitely one to tell the grandkids."
Tom Cleverley has opened up on what it was like to work under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
The legendary Scottish manager has a staggering trophy collection from his time at the club, including two Champions Leagues and 13 Premier League titles.
That haul was the result of many things, including a furious temper that he wasn't afraid of showing his players.
Former Red Devils midfielder Cleverley was one star who was on the receiving end of the infamous "hairdryer treatment".
The now-retired 34-year-old revealed he butted heads with the manager over a poor performance against Chelsea when he was playing out on the left wing.
However, he then confessed it was the last time he ever stepped out of line.
Fifth-placed champs Manchester City remain Prem title favourites.
City can cut the deficit on leaders Arsenal to three points if they win their game in hand at Everton on Wednesday.
But the Gunners then host West Ham the following evening.
Here are the Prem title odds from OLBG:
Manchester City: 5/4
Arsenal: 2/1
Liverpool: 3/1
Aston Villa: 20/1
Tottenham: 25/1
SunSport has identified seven bargain January transfers for Premier League clubs.
One of them, AZ Alkmaar's Vangelis Pavlidis, is outscoring Erling Haaland this season.
1. Maxence Caqueret, 23, CM, Lyon
2. Daizen Maeda, 26, RW, Celtic
3. Viktor Djukanovic, 19, LW, Hammarby
4. Kevin Denkey, 23, ST, Cercle Brugge
5. Bojan Miovski, 24, ST, Aberdeen
6. Sammie Szmodics, 28, ST, Blackburn Rovers
7. Vangelis Pavlidis, 25, ST, AZ Alkmaar
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL GUIDE TO EACH STAR
AND WHY THEY COULD BE A GREAT SIGNING
Ex-Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger says he was more nervous meeting now-wife Ana Ivanovic for the first time than playing in the final of the Champions League, World Cup and Euros.
Schweinsteiger and former World No1 tennis ace Ivanovic were set up by his basketball pal Steffen Hamann in New York.
The German World Cup winner told Bild: “It was love at first sight. You feel special moments and you can recognise them when you look deeply into someone's eyes - that's exactly how it was with me."
But he added: "I wasn't that good at English when we met, so I listened to Ana a lot at the beginning.
"I was a bit on the defensive and saw what was coming.”
The power couple have two sons together and are expecting a third kid soon.
Manchester United and Arsenal players are way down the list for the service to strikers this season.
And in fact United's Rasmus Hojlund has received the fewest number of passes from any Prem attacker - just behind team-mate Anthony Martial.
Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus slots in at 12th on a list topped by Son Heung-min from big rivals Tottenham.
Alan Shearer slammed Manchester United's attack after pointing out a big weakness of Alejandro Garnacho and Antony that continued in yesterday's 2-0 loss at West Ham.
Rasmus Hojlund has been singled out for his failure to find the target in 14 Prem games, but Garnacho and Antony have both played more than 450 minutes alongside the Dane in the Prem this season, yet have only managed a combined total of 11 passes to the youngster.
That equates to around one pass per 90 minutes
Shearer said on Match of the Day: "Antony into Hojlund, six passes in what five games?
"All season, Garnacho, five passes, that should be happening per game, nevermind five or six games.
"There is something drastically wrong and they are never going to score goals until they improve on that."
Erik ten Hag is odds-on to be the next Prem boss sacked.
The Manchester United chief went from 6/5 before yesterday's 2-0 loss at West Ham to 17/20.
There's then a big gap to Crystal Palace's Roy Hodgson at 5/1 and Burnley manager Vincent Kompany at 11/1.
And after dropping to eighth, United are now 6/1 in the Betfair odds for a top-four finish.
BETFAIR ODDS:
Erik ten Hag 17/20
Roy Hodgson 5/1
Vincent Kompany 11/1
Mauricio Pochettino 12/1
David Moyes 14/1
Eddie Howe 16/1
Gary Neville believes Gabriel Jesus is like Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez - but doubts he is good enough to be Arsenal's main striker.
Former Manchester United right-back Neville is unsure Jesus and Eddie Nketiah have the goal threat needed to dethrone Manchester City.
Nev said on his podcast: “I’ve found myself talking at the end of many Arsenal games this season now about whether Nketiah and Jesus are number one and two strikers in Premier League title-winning sides, or whether they’re actually more two and three strikers and they need that number one.
“I actually love Jesus, I really love him. Honestly, I think he’s a brilliant player, I’d love to play with him. He’s got a bit of Rooney in him, he’s got a bit of Tevez in him, he’s got sort of everything.
“But, he hasn’t got that sort of instinct in front of goal, and sometimes, he’s everywhere you don’t want him to be.”
Paul Scholes claims Manchester United have serious problems with "no goal threat from anywhere".
The Old Trafford legend believes yesterday's 2-0 defeat at West Ham showed ALL their strikers have a lack of confidence.
The ex-England midfielder said: "United have got problems. Goalscoring is a big issue. Four games without a goal or creating anything really.
"You usually go through seasons where one or two of your forwards are maybe struggling with a bit of confidence and they can't score goals, but it's every single one of them.
"They've got no goal threat from anywhere.
"The forwards have got to step up, find a bit of confidence from somewhere and bring some threat to the team. There is no threat to the team.
"Goal scoring is a real problem, they've got to solve that somehow."