Sir Jim Ratcliffe could agree Man United takeover deal after Glazers clause revealed
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe could look to agree a full takeover deal after a Glazers clause has been revealed.
Ratcliffe purchased a 27.7 per cent stake in Man United in February 2024 after agreeing a £1.25billion deal with the Glazers, valuing the club at close to £5bn.
The Glazers’s drag-along rights in Man United came into effect on 13 August, 18 months after their deal with Ratcliffe was agreed.
It gives the American family the power to sell their stake and also force Ratcliffe into a sale in a full takeover of the club.
Former Man City financial adviser Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider Ratcliffe could arrange a behind-the-scenes deal to avoid a third-party swooping in to take over at Old Trafford.
Man United takeover would require ‘enormous’ bid
Ratcliffe has increased his stake in Man United to 28.9 per cent after injecting £238million since initially investing in the club.
Meanwhile, the Glazers, who bought a 98 per cent stake at Old Trafford in 2005 for £790m, have since seen their shareholding diluted to 48.9 per cent.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the Glazers activating their drag-along rights, Borson said: “I think it’s almost zero chance at the moment.
“I just don’t think it’s very likely that out of the blue somebody says here’s an offer for United.
“I think we’d know about it if there was some kind of sale process that was ongoing.
“What we might not know about is if Ratcliffe wanted to buy the rest and that could happen.
“That could be arranged behind the scenes confidentially and then announced.
“But I think it’s very unlikely at this sort of value, just because it needs such an enormous amount of money to do this deal at the sort of level that Ratcliffe did his first tranche at, but we’ll see over time.”
Ratcliffe secured his stake in Man United ahead of Sheikh Jassim, who wanted to secure a full takeover but failed to provide proof of funds.
Glazers could agree Man United takeover deal
Football Insider revealed on 11 September the Glazers are unlikely to agree a Man United takeover in the near future.
However, it is believed they could be more open to a deal once progress is made on constructing the club’s new stadium.
Man United have announced plans to build a 100,000-seater stadium as part of the government’s regeneration of the Old Trafford area.
Ratcliffe has insisted he wants the new stadium, which the club believe will cost around £2bn, to be the “world’s greatest” and potentially be completed within five years.
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