Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag 'backs Sir Jim Ratcliffe takeover' as fresh details come to light

The Glazers had suggested they were open to a full sale last year.

But with Sheikh Jassim withdrawing his offer, the family are set to welcome Ratcliffe to Old Trafford instead.

Widespread reports have said the 70-year-old will take sporting control of the club once the deal goes through.

And that, according to the Daily Mail, has delighted Ten Hag.

United have backed the Dutchman ever since bringing him in as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's permanent replacement nearly 18 months ago.

Christian Eriksen, Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro and Antony were all signed last year.

And United then proceeded to recruit the likes of Mason Mount, Andre Onana, Rasmus Hojlund, Sergio Reguilon and Sofyan Amrabat this summer, too.

Ten Hag, however, has some misgivings about United's recruitment department.

He is said to have been frustrated over the club's changing budget, with the Glazers causing uncertainty due to their handling of the situation.

Ten Hag was reportedly initially told he would have just £60million to spend on fresh faces this year, having been backed so lavishly in 2022.

But United, after landing Mount from Chelsea, then spent big on the likes of Onana and Hojlund.

Ten Hag hopes Ratcliffe can help United improve both on and off the pitch.

And the INEOS chief will be eager to make a success of the club, with Ratcliffe also setting his sights on a full takeover in the future.

United have spent plenty of money in the years since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013.

But their five costliest signings have all been flops, rather than hits.

Paul Pogba never lived up to expectations after returning from Juventus for a then world-record fee of £89m back in 2016.

The jury remains out on Antony, who has blown hot and cold during his time in English football so far.

Harry Maguire has toiled under Solskjaer and Ten Hag, having cost £80m upon arriving from Leicester in 2019.

Romelu Lukaku lasted just two years at Old Trafford having been snapped up by Jose Mourinho from Everton in 2017.

And Jadon Sancho, United's fifth most-expensive signing of all time, is currently banished from the first team.

Ratcliffe is set to keep Ten Hag as manager once his deal is completed.

The 53-year-old has overseen a poor start to the season, with United winning just four of their first eight Premier League games.

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But Ratcliffe wants Ten Hag to succeed and the Dutchman's position isn't under threat just yet.