Man Utd takeover: Ex-Liverpool, Tottenham and PSG men ‘considered’ as part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe plans

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s partial Manchester United takeover is expected to be pushed through this week, with the British billionaire set to purchase 25 percent of the club and be handed the reins to the sporting project at Old Trafford.

It follows the news that Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al Thani withdrew from the bidding process on Saturday, leaving the path clear for Ratcliffe’s investment. That is subject to a vote by the United board on Thursday.

Assuming Ratcliffe’s Ineos-led offer is accepted, the petrochemicals billionaire may look to install his own staff at Old Trafford, with the roles of football director John Murtough - and his deputy Andy O’Boyle - under threat.

One addition that has already been suggested is Sir Dave Brailsford, the former performance director at British Cycling, a sport known well by Ineos officials, with the Ineos Grenadiers part of the company’s sporting portfolio.

According to the Times, Brailsford, who currently works at Ligue 1 side Nice, would oversee any personnel changes. Potential arrivals in the football operations department could include Jean-Claude Blanc, the ex-Paris Saint-Germain chief executive who joined Ineos earlier this year.

Michael Edwards is another name that has been considered, although the former Liverpool sporting director has recently taken up a role at Ludonautics, a sports advisory firm. The ex-Anfield chief helped lead the Merseyside club to their recent successes domestically and in Europe, but departed Liverpool in the summer of 2022.

A final name that is reportedly being considered is Paul Mitchell, Monaco’s sporting director who previously has worked at Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and RB Leipzig. The 42-year-old could be brought in to oversee the recruitment side of United’s new operation, claim the Times.

The outlet add that Ratcliffe hopes he will be in charge of football operations in time for the January transfer window.