BRITISH billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly contemplating a new bid for Premier League club Manchester United that would see the Ineos chemicals company owner seek a minority 25 per cent stake in the Old Trafford outfit.

Ratcliffe was seen to be in a twohorse race with Qatari Sheikh

Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani for a majority stake of Manchester United, currently controlled by the Glazer family - who also have a controlling stake in NFL franchise Tampa Bay Buccaneers - with bids that reportedly reached £5bn each.

According to Sky News, the proposal would see Ratcliffe purchase "A shares", traded on the New York Stock Exchange, and "B shares", controlled by the Glazers, in "equal proportion" - that could see Ratcliffe invest £1.5bn.

Sheikh Jassim's bid is envisaged to be a complete takeover. Both main bids had commitments to stadium renovation.

Despite interest from the two leading parties, plus others, it is reported that the Glazers may now be reluctant to give up the controlling stake they purchased in 2005 for £790m.

(c) 2023 City A.M., source Newspaper