Sir Jim Ratcliffe could well be the man to end the Glazer family’s reign at Manchester United, having confirmed his interest in buying the club.
A spokesperson for the British billionaire confirmed on Wednesday that Ratcliffe is interested in taking over at Old Trafford. The Ineos owner’s statement of intent comes after reports that the club’s current owners are looking for new investment.
“If the club is for sale, Jim is definitely a potential buyer,” the spokesperson told The Times. “If something like this was possible, we would be interested in talking with a view to long-term ownership.
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"This is not about the money that has been spent or not spent. Jim is looking at what can be done now and, knowing how important the club is to the city, it feels like the time is right for a reset."
The news has been welcomed by the club’s supporters, who have long been rallying for the removal of the Glazers. United fan Ratcliffe has previously been linked with a takeover of the club, and crucially is one of a few people who should have the funds to complete a deal.
But just how much would it cost Ratcliffe to buy United? We’ve taken a look at some of the figures that have been suggested.
How much would Manchester United cost?
There has never been any official word on how much the Glazers would be looking for in order to part ways, given they’ve never actually put the club up for sale. The American family bought the club in a deal worth £790million back in 2005, but that figure is a long way off what United will be worth now.
Forbes valued the club at around $4.6bn (£3.8bn) in their latest rich list, which gives an indication of just how much any potential buyer would need. Reports have also suggested the Glazers would be looking for around £4bn from any sale.
Another indicator of how much United could go for is the sale of Chelsea earlier this year. The Blues changed hands from Roman Abramovich to Todd Boehly for £4.25bn, and despite their recent struggles, you can certainly expect United to go for a similar fee, if not more – in fact, a recent report from Goal suggested the club is now likely to cost in excess of £5bn.
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