Man Utd takeover latest: Glazers' 'win-win deal', Jim Ratcliffe 'frustrated' plus finance expert's verdict

Manchester United fans continue to wait for their new partial owner to arrive after around a year of waiting. The Glazers announced last November that they would consider outside investment, but progress has been very slow.

Bids have come and gone, including a huge offer from Sheikh Jassim that was rejected. We now know Jim Ratcliffe will buy a stake in the club, but where do things stand with the investment? We have rounded up all the latest on the situation.

The power card

The Telegraph have written a fresh report about United's proposed partial takeover, and they have expressed that the Glazers will retain the final word on all club decisions, given they will be the majority shareholders.

Ratcliffe will reportedly get control of footballing decisions at Old Trafford with his purchase, but the report stresses that the Glazers will still hold ultimate power should they choose to overrule any decisions. Still, it will be hoped that Ratcliffe and the Glazers will come to a solid agreement and a way of working that will not prove as disruptive as the report makes it sound.

The 'win-win deal'

Finance expert Kieran Maguire has been discussing Ratcliffe's arrival and the deal he has reportedly struck with the Glazers. “Handing over sporting control is a get-out-of-jail-free card for the Glazers,” Maguire told Football Insider. “Because if things don’t work out on the pitch, they can now argue that they’re not the problem.

“They will pass over that responsibility to Sir Jim Ratcliffe. If things do work out on the pitch, then it increases the value of the club and they’ve still got a significant share. So it’s a win-win deal for the Glazers.

“We know that they’ve already milked Manchester United significantly in the form of dividends and minor share payouts over the years. This is simply going to add to their wealth. And on top of that, they still have a significant share in one of the biggest brands in world sport.“

Ratcliffe 'frustrated'

Ratcliffe is said to have grown frustrated by the Premier League's new ownership rules that have seen his partial takeover at Old Trafford delayed. The Telegraph report that the restrictions could cause another week of delays, and there is the possibility of another 6-8-week ratification process.

All Premier League owners must go through these processes, but given the lack of strictness shown for some of the incoming owners, many will be questioning the need for such regulations. Still, frustrated or not, Ratcliffe will need to bide his time until the processes are complete.