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Under the potential new management of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is on the brink of securing a £1.3 billion stake for a 25% share in Manchester United, a significant reshuffle might be on the horizon.
Ratcliffe, the 71-year-old Ineos founder, could see his acquisition finalised as soon as next Monday, bringing about a much-needed restructuring of the club’s sporting framework, following a period marked by what many consider to be poor management decisions.
With this change, United’s Chief Executive, Richard Arnold, and Director of Football, John Murtough, might find their positions in jeopardy, particularly due to a series of unsuccessful moves in the transfer market.
The club has seen an expenditure of £1.4 billion on player acquisitions since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013, yet they have failed to secure another Premier League title during this period.
According to The Sun, Ratcliffe plans to extend Erik ten Hag’s tenure as manager, despite a rocky start to the season. Ten Hag, who led United to a third-place finish last season and clinched the Carabao Cup – their first trophy in six years – is expected to remain in his role for the time being.
However, a squad overhaul is seemingly in the works, potentially starting in the January transfer window. Players like Anthony Martial, Jadon Sancho, and Antony are reported to be on the chopping block.
Martial, a long-term member of the squad since his transfer from Monaco in 2015, has struggled to meet the lofty expectations set by a Ballon d’Or clause in his contract.
With his contract expiring next summer, United is keen to recoup some of their investment.
Sancho’s future at United is also uncertain following a public disagreement with Ten Hag over his training efforts, which escalated after a 3-1 loss to Arsenal in September.
Sancho took to Twitter to express his frustrations, labeling himself a ‘scapegoat’, a tweet he later removed. Despite this, he has not apologized to Ten Hag.
Interest in Sancho from his former club Borussia Dortmund has been reported, as he still holds positive memories of his time in Germany.
Lastly, Antony, for whom United paid a significant £86 million in 2022, might find his time at Old Trafford cut short. His performance this season has been underwhelming, with no goals or assists to his name thus far.