Man Utd set for FULL takeover with Glazers ‘more likely to sell entire shares of club’ as sale enters formal stage
MAN UTD are reportedly set for a complete takeover when the Glazers sell the club.
The Red Devils chiefs revealed in November that they were willing to listen to offers for either a stake in the Premier League giants or an outright purchase.
British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, 70, has since become the first businessperson to officially declare an interest in buying United.
And according to The Mail, the Glazers see more appeal in selling the club as opposed to offloading a percentage stake.
Huge investment is thought to be needed for renovations to Old Trafford and the training ground.
Some believed this would deter new owners from stepping forward, but that has reportedly not been the case.
Merchant bankers Raine Group, who helped with the sale of Chelsea last year, have been tasked with overseeing the process at the Theatre of Dreams.
And while it remains in the early stages, a more formal process is set to begin in the next “three to four weeks”.
The Glazers have owned United for 18 years but have never been liked by fans after plunging the club into vast amounts of debt while taking cash out.
Protests against the American family have been going on at Old Trafford for more than a decade.
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Now the Glazers could be in the final stages of their reign as they prepare for offers to buy the club.
Ratcliffe, who is worth £15billion, first registered his interest last summer.
A spokesperson back then said: “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.
“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.”
Ratcliffe, a lifelong United supporter, is a petrochemicals tycoon who at his peak was worth around £21billion.
He runs multi-billion-pound chemicals giant Ineos, which owns French club Nice, Swiss side Lausanne, plus a third of Formula One team Mercedes.
It also owns cycling team Ineos Grenadiers.
Ratcliffe made a last-gasp bid to buy Chelsea back in May, although his £4.25billion offer was rejected.
The club was eventually sold to Todd Boehly, who has not been afraid to splash the cash during his short time in charge.