Three Man Utd chiefs’ futures in jeopardy including CEO Richard Arnold when Sir Jim Ratcliffe takes over club next week
THE futures of THREE senior Manchester United chiefs are in jeopardy with Sir Jim Ratcliffe ready to swing the axe after his £1.3bn buy-in is complete.
Ratcliffe is set to take over 25 per cent stake of United next week.
The British billionaire will immediately control United’s football operations as the Glazer family take a back seat.
Ratcliffe, 71, is already planning a massive overhaul of the club’s player scouting and acquisition network.
And that means the jobs of CEO Richard Arnold, football director John Murtough and director of football operations David Harrison are all at risk.
Harrison was only appointed in February.
But Ratcliffe is concerned how the trio have continued to oversee a succession of expensive purchases following the departure of previous chief Ed Woodward.
In the last decade following Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, United have spent a whopping £1.4bn on players.
And lifelong United supporter Ratcliffe is stunned so much has been spent in exchange for so little success.
During that time, Old Trafford chiefs have coughed millions on a number of flops.
That includes a club record £89m for Paul Pogba, £85.5m on Antony, £75m on Romelu Lukaku, £73m on Jadon Sancho, £59.7m on Angel Di Maria, £44.5m on Anthony Martial and £35m on Donny van de Beek.
But United haven’t won the title since 2013 and have banked just one FA Cup, two League Cups and a Europa League title since Fergie won 28 major trophies during his glittering reign.
Erik ten Hag has spent £374m in initial fees since taking charge.
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But Ratcliffe accepts the Dutchman has credit in the bank following last season’s third-place league finish and Carabao Cup success.
He also concedes Ten Hag was brought in 18 months ago on the back of a succession of failures before him – David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick.
Ratcliffe has held discussions with co-chairman Joel Glazer over United’s whole football structure.
The self-made Ineos chemicals billionaire has made it clear he will focus on this side of the operation and his buy-in is expected to spark a series of new appointments.
Brazilian Anthony – who only arrived in the summer – outcast Sancho and Martial are in line to be dumped in January.