Sir Jim Ractfille wants to buy Manchester United. The owner of chemical company INEOS has made it clear he is prepared to buy out the unpopular Glazer family if they can be convinced to sell the club. There is a growing belief that the American owners are slowly ceding to pressure from the fans to exit the club. Reports in America have claimed they are considering selling a stake in the club, which it is understood Ratcliffe would be open to buying. However, it is also understood that Ractfille will prefer to take full control as he has the funds to end the Glazer family rule over Manchester United. Sources familiar with major sporting acquisitions claim it would take around £6 billion ($7.2bn) to buy the club. Chelsea were solid for a record figure in May when Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital bought out Roman Abramovich for £2.5bn ($3.2bn), with a further agreement in place that £1.75bn ($2.1bn) will be invested over 10 years. That deal was struck with the Blues under intense pressure to find a quick agreement after Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK government for his links to Vladimir Putin. 

Because Manchester United owns a significantly larger stadium and is one of the most commercially successful clubs in world sport, it is anticipated the Glazers could command a much higher asking price. Protests are anticipated to take place at Old Trafford on Monday as Manchester United is set to face off with Liverpool. In May 2021, the fixtures between the two clubs were postponed due to protests when Manchester United fans stormed the pitch and tried to enter the dressing room. The Glazer family has been shareholders in Manchester United since 2003 and they gained full control of the club in 2005. Their decision to join the failed European Super League was particularly unpopular among supporters. And Manchester United's terrible start to this campaign, which sees them bottom of the table for the first time since 1992, has upped tensions even more. They lost to Brighton and Brentford in their opening two games.

Sir Jim Ractfille is estimated to be worth about £13bn ($15.7bn). He is also a lifelong Manchester United fan. Ratcliffe owns French club Nice and launched a late bid to buy Chelsea earlier this year - but missed out after failing to meet the deadline to submit an official offer. His personal support of Manchester United has made him a natural buyer if the opportunity arose. The question remains to be whether the Glazers family will sell the club. There have been growing noises in recent years that the family would entertain bids of a certain figure, with a Saudi-backed take-over long-mooted. The official line from within Manchester United has always been that they are not for sale. But the Glazers are facing mounting costs at a time when their on-pitch fortunes are at their lowest in decades. As Unites sit at the bottom of the table, the new manage Erik Ten Hag is desperately trying to bring in new signings to help salvage the sinking ship. It is likely to take transfer investment in excess of £150 million ($180m) to have any chance of mounting a top-four challenge this season. The Glazers have also announced their intentions to carry out much-needed redevelopments at Old Trafford in what would amount to another steep financial commitment for a debt-ridden group. With the family continuing to take out multi-million-pound dividends annually and with UEFA Champions League football lacking, it remains to be seen on how they are planing on financing their project. Other people who have been linked with buying out United are the Ricketts family, who own the Chicago Clubs, Woody Johnson, owner of the New York Jets, Steve Pagliuca, who owns the Boston Celtics, and Knighton has already announced his intention to put together a consortium.