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Sir Jim Ratcliffe's partial takeover of Manchester United will reportedly allow the club to make a significant investment in its playing squad in the summer, while staying within the confines of Financial Fair Play rules.
Ratcliffe's £1.3 billion deal to buy a 25 percent stake in United was announced on Christmas Eve after months of speculation, with the 71-year-old taking over football operations once the deal was approved by the Premier League.
As part of the deal, the INEOS Group CEO also pledged a £235 million equity investment in the club, a move that will have a significant impact on United's FFP situation.
Erik ten Hag had identified Harry Kane as a top target for the club last summer, as the England captain prepared to leave Tottenham after more than a decade in north London.
However, concerns surrounding FFP thwarted a potential move to bring the 30-year-old to Old Trafford, with the England captain joining Bayern Munich instead.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe's arrival at Manchester United will reportedly give the club more freedom to spend money while staying within financial rules
United were reportedly unable to replace Harry Kane this summer due to concerns surrounding FFP
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In July, the club was fined £256,000 for a 2022 breach of what UEFA's financial control body described as a 'small break-even deficit'.
However, summer transfer activity for the club continued, with Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund and Andre Onana arriving at the club for a combined fee of almost £180 million.
And according to a report from The timesUnited could spend big again this summer, with Ratcliffe's investment offsetting any concerns about FFP.
Recruitment at any top club must be weighed against the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), which dictate that teams can only post losses of up to £15m per year over a three-year period.
However, these losses can be offset by investment from a club's owners, with the deal with INEOS offering the club the opportunity to benefit from the higher PSR cap once Ratcliffe's deal is officially approved.
In July, the club was fined by UEFA for breaching the Financial Fair Play rules in 2022
This additional investment will mean that United's new allowable losses under PSR rules will rise to £105 million per year, which is likely to provide Ten Hag with a significant war chest as he looks to strengthen his faltering squad in the summer.
As well as new arrivals to the club, a number of current United stars are expected to leave in the coming months.
Jadon Sancho remains frozen under Ten Hag due to interest from former club Borussia Dortmund, while United have opted not to exercise a one-year contract extension option on Raphael Varane.