Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Man United takeover may not be finalised before the January window

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s purchase of a 25 percent stake in Manchester United may not be completed before the January transfer window, per Mail Sport.

Many people expected the £1.4 billion deal to be sealed at a board meeting on Thursday afternoon, but it will take considerably longer.

The twelve board members will convene this afternoon while the current owners of Man United, the Glazers, join in from the United States. 

Legal experts are still toiling away on the intricate details of the Ratcliffe/INEOS agreement to buy United, casting doubts on a swift resolution. 

Insiders have even suggested that the final agreement might take ‘weeks’ to materialise. It appears unlikely that Ratcliffe will have assumed the reins at Old Trafford when the New Year arrives.

If the agreement is ratified, Ratcliffe and INEOS will take over United’s sporting matters, identifying targets and overseeing transfers.

However, United are not planning any big moves in the upcoming January transfer window. 

Their focus is on adhering to financial fair play regulations, which would involve offloading players such as Harry Maguire to create room for new arrivals.

Ratcliffe’s involvement in the club could potentially usher in a new era for United, but only if the details can be ironed out to satisfaction.

Sheikh Jassim bin Hammad Al Thani and Ratcliffe were the main contenders until the Qatari magnate pulled out of the deal over the weekend.