Man Utd decision will have baffled Jim Ratcliffe as £1.4bn Glazers deal on hold

Man Utd are making huge changes ahead of Sir Jim Ratcliffe coming into the club | Football Digest

Sir Jim Ratcliffe may have been unhappy with the way Manchester United reportedly swung in this week’s high-profile Premier League vote regarding a ban on owner-influenced transfers. The INEOS founder is set to invest heavily in United once the Glazer family sanction a deal, but he already helms two clubs.

Sir Jim’s £1.4billion purchase of a 25 per cent stake was widely expected to become official this week – during the final international break in 2023.

However, that is yet to arrive exactly one year after the Glazers announced their strategic review in search of alternative investment.

Thanksgiving festivities commence on Thursday in the United States, so long-awaited confirmation of his agreement is reportedly on hold until next week at the earliest.

For now, Sir Jim and his INEOS party have no say in the ongoings at Old Trafford but are expected to inherit total sporting control upon their arrival.

Therefore, representatives of the current hierarchy were present in a Premier League meeting on Tuesday, where all 20 clubs voted on whether to ban transfers between sister clubs in the January transfer window.

The Premier League proposed fast-tracking a ban to safeguard the integrity of the competition and allow time to find a permanent solution.

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But the Manchester Evening News report that it was not passed after the vote required 14 clubs to be in favour of triggering the ban, but it ended as 13-7.

And United have been named among those who voted in favour of banning deals between sister clubs.

The decision isn’t exactly surprising, given rivals Chelsea, Manchester City, and Newcastle United can all profit from the novelty in January. Everton, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United and Wolves joined them in voting against the ban.

However, Sir Jim may have opted to go the other way if it was his decision, considering INEOS also own Ligue 1 high-flyers OGC Nice and Swiss outfit FC Lausanne-Sport.

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Once the 71-year-old enters power at Old Trafford, United could use his ties to Nice and Lausanne-Sport to their benefit.

Sister clubs have historically been used to aid the development of young players through loans, recoup transfer fees for outgoing stars, and secure the upper hand in transfer races for highly rated names.

But the Premier League are looking to clamp down on the matter as the influence of Saudi Arabian ownership grows in England’s top flight.

As questions continue to arise over clubs with Saudi investors taking advantage of the Saudi Pro League revolution, Tuesday’s vote likely won’t represent the Premier League’s long-term attitude.

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