Manchester United are refusing to comment on the revelation that Sir Jim Ratcliffe has announced his desire to buy the club from the Glazers.
A boyhood United fan, Ratcliffe is one of the richest people in the UK thanks to his ownership of chemical giant Ineos. On Wednesday, the Englishman revealed that he would seek to buy the Red Devils if the Glazers were willing to sell.
The Americans have faced increased criticism of their leadership over the past decade, with United failing to win the Premier League title within that time. They have also seen debt grow to an estimated £600million, even as they take out yearly dividends to pay to shareholders.
Rumours of a potential takeover gathered path on Wednesday when Ratcliffe publicly announced his intention to pursue a deal. According to the Manchester Evening News, United are refusing to comment on the possibility of Ratcliffe taking over.
It is thought the Glazers could be open to new investors at the very least as doubts grow over their ability or desire to fund several transformational projects that United are in dire need of. The first of those involves the stadium, which has been beset by problems with the Glazers having been unwilling to modernise it.
Improvements are also needed at the club's Carrington training ground, while Ten Hag's squad itself badly needs a major overhaul. With the Red Devils sitting rock bottom of the top-flight, this season has been a fresh low in the Glazers' ownership.
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But a potential exit route has been provided by Ratcliffe, who announced his desire to buy the club through a spokesperson. The spokesperson insisted that the time was "right" for a new era at Old Trafford.
“If the club is for sale, Jim is definitely a potential buyer. If something like this was possible, we would be interested in talking with a view to long-term ownership," the spokesperson told The Times.
"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."
According to the MEN, it is not yet clear whether the Glazers would be open to selling the club altogether. But they could look to bring in a new investor to improve the club's cash flow.
The Red Devils' share price also rose on Thursday after news broke that the Glazers may be willing to sell a minority stake. Ratcliffe previously submitted a bid to buy Chelsea in spring, though American Todd Boehly ultimately won the race to buy the Blues.
