Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to lodge a bid to buy Manchester United after previously being offered the chance to take over at Liverpool.
The current Nice owner was given the opportunity to buy Liverpool in the last few months but turned down the chance in an attempt to get the most out of the French outfit. The Ligue 1 club have made a disappointing start to the campaign, having won just five of their opening 15 games, and Ratcliffe had little interest in leaving them behind for Liverpool.
There was a renewed sense of optimism on Nice this season after Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe and Aaron Ramsey both signed, but the duo have made below-par starts in southern France. Ratcliffe has showed plenty of ambition to improve the club, but he is now keen on buying United.
Ratcliffe is a United fan and grew up in Oldham, just north of Manchester. He could now be swayed to return home and purchase his boyhood club with the Glazers looking to sell.
According to the Independent, Ratcliffe believes the opportunity is "too tempting and unique" to not engage in the process having snubbed Liverpool. He is expected to face competition from a number of parties, one who also attempted to buy Chelsea, but that list is expected to grow as potential buyers now announce their intentions.
It was also reported on Thursday morning that technology giants Apple were interested in making a bid for the Red Devils. Apple are by far the largest technology company on the planet with an annual revenue of almost £400bn and their products are sold all over the world, although they haven't purchased a football team as big as United.
CEO Tim Cook is keen to explore the opportunities owning United could provide, and he will line up talks with the banks appointed to oversee the sale, which include The Raine Group. Apple seem a serious contender to take over the Red Devils after the Glazers announced they would be selling up.
Many United fans wanted the American-based family to sell up sooner, but the Independent were told that it was Fenway Sports Group that greatly influenced the Glazers to confirm the club was for sale. FSG announced back in October that they were open to offers for Liverpool, 12 years after buying the Anfield club.
Similarly to the Glazers, FSG have come under pressure by certain sections of the Reds fanbase for how they spend their money after Liverpool's reluctance to break their wage structure. Mohamed Salah is the Reds' highest paid player with the Egyptian earning £350,000 per week, £130,000 less than what Cristiano Ronaldo was reportedly picking up at the Red Devils before his contract was terminated.
