Sir Jim Ratcliffe is closing in on a deal that will see him acquire 25% of the club after lengthy negotiations with the Glazer family, with almost a year passing since the American owners made their interest in selling a minority or full stake public.
Ratcliffe has been ever-present in talks both ways and after having bids to purchase the club outright rejected by the Glazers, it was finally agreed that he would secure a fourth of the club.
It is still uncertain whether Ratcliffe will acquire the club before the turn of the year but supporters are hopeful that the deal will have crossed the line by then and if reports are accurate, he will have a controlling vote in the football department.
Erik ten Hag’s future has been the subject of some speculation in recent weeks, with the team’s patchy form sparking debates surrounding the Dutchman.
Ratcliffe is, however, said to have made his mind up on Ten Hag’s future if the English billionaire joins the club. According to The Mirror, Ratcliffe has no plans to sack Ten Hag.
As per the report, Ratcliffe has not made signing a new manager a priority and has instead raised concerns over other areas, which include the high fees paid to improve the squad and the lacking facilities at Old Trafford and the training ground.
In truth, it would be ludicrous to get rid of Ten Hag at this point as he is still just 14 months into his stay at the club and he has exceeded expectations.
He ended United’s six-year wait for silverware and his first season was a success. The second year has not been nearly as promising but as the saying goes – Rome wasn’t built in a day.
For me Eric Ten Hag has his own problem. He brought in average players that too expensive to Manchester United.
Never a time I supported the idea of Mason Mount and Hojlund coming to Old Trafford.
Mount had been out of form for long, little wonder he has been on Chelsea’s bench for a long time.
Hojlund is not ripe yet to command a starting number 9 for a big club like Man
U. He lacks dexterity in his feet.
He’s a player that most coaches wouldn’t use to start a game. He’s isn’t developed for such a responsibility.
For Antony, he’s yet to justify the reason he was brought to the club. We all knew how he was bought due to panic buy.
At times I begin to wonder if really he’s the same player we bought for that huge amount.
Cody Gakpo was bought very much cheaper than Antony but Gakpo is far above Antony in comparison.
January transfer provides a very good opportunity to connect some of the mistakes made in the past transfer window.
Eric Ten Hag should also change his tactical approach to the game. He should adopt the style that will make the players play a possessive and attacking football.
He should make the players to go for every ball and retrieve the ball when they lose it.