Sir Jim Ratcliffe has already described Joel and Avram Glazer as "the nicest people" and "proper gentlemen" ahead of his hotly-anticipated bid to buy Manchester United.
The English chemical mogul and boyhood United fan has officially declared his interest in purchasing the club after the Glazers - who're believed to be holding out for a £5billion sale - confirmed in November that they were open to offers and actively "exploring strategic alternatives". Ratcliffe, 70, put himself in the running this week ahead of the reported mid-February deadline for proposals.
Considered Britain's richest man and backed by fans during heated protests earlier this season, the chief executive of chemical giant INEOS has met brothers Joel and Avram. The revelation came shortly after Ratcliffe had considered purchasing Premier League rivals Chelsea, a club he has "split allegiance" with, before Todd Boehly's consortium bought the Blues for £4.25bn.
