Sack Erik ten Hag? Jadon Sancho – save or sell? What happens in January? And will Raphael Varane follow another big-contract star out the exit door? Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s £1.3bn in-tray at Man United

Now that the difficult deal has finally been completed for Sir Jim Ratcliffe to invest £1.3 billion in Manchester United and take over the football operations at Old Trafford, the INEOS owner can get to work.

It won't be formally confirmed until February, but Ratcliffe's influence will be felt sooner after he buys a 25 percent stake in United.

Mail Sport looks at the key issues facing the 71-year-old billionaire as he tries to revive his boyhood club.

Change administrator?

The feeling at United is that the current regime is reluctant to take drastic action against manager Erik ten Hag and is more likely to hand that decision to Ratcliffe and his INEOS team. Now that the investment has been announced, that safety net is being removed.

Ratcliffe, who has had five permanent coaches in three years at another of his clubs, Nice, has no particular loyalty to Ten Hag and will have looked at a turbulent start to the season with dismay.

United have lost half of their 26 games, exited Europe after finishing bottom of the Champions League group and scored fewer goals than any other Premier League team besides Sheffield United.

Ten Hag's position will now come into sharper focus and if results do not improve, it is difficult to imagine him keeping his job.

Ten Hag must improve on Man United's poor results if he wants to keep his job as manager

Find a new football director

INEOS sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford and chief executive Jean-Claude Blanc are expected to join the board of United's football club as part of the deal, but one of the key appointments will be a new football director.

John Murtough is set to step aside and could very well be given a different role in the new setup.

Dan Ashworth is a leading candidate to replace him, although United would have to buy the 52-year-old out of his contract at Newcastle.

Improving recruitment will be central to Ratcliffe's plans, after United saw them spend £400m on new signings in 18 months under Ten Hag, and almost £2bn in 18 years of the Glazer government.

Sir Dave Brailsford looks set to join United's football club board as part of Ratcliffe deal

January transfer window

United have said it will be a quiet period as they focus on offloading fringe players, with Donny van de Beek the first to be loaned out to Eintracht Frankfurt.

With Financial Fair Play continuing to bite Old Trafford and Ratcliffe's investment approved, this is unlikely to change dramatically.

However, it will be interesting to see if INEOS make their intention known with a signing statement to the fans.

Be that as it may, United's main transfer activities will have to wait until the summer, and even then FFP and the cost of an early exit from Europe will impact their spending.

Donny van de Beek will be the first out of the gate under Ratcliffe – more could follow

Review the playing team

It is clear that the current United squad is not good enough, but overhauling a group of players put together by a succession of managers with big contracts will not be an easy task.

One of the most pressing issues facing Ratcliffe is Jadon Sancho, a £73million signing who has been training on his own for four months after falling out with Ten Hag.

Are INEOS trying to broker a peace deal between the two men or find a new club for Sancho? Could Sancho Ten Hag survive at United?

Jadon Sancho has not played for four months after a row with United boss Ten Hag

A decision has already been made on Anthony Martial, whose contract is allowed to expire, while Raphael Varane will only stay on if he accepts lower terms on his £340,000-a-week salary.

Casemiro is another big earner who could be gone early next season, and Murtough's recent trip to Saudi Arabia is a sign that United are exploring interest in their players.

This is just the beginning for INEOS on what seems like a long road ahead.

Raphael Varane will have to take a pay cut if he wants to stay at the club

Renovate or rebuild the stadium?

The name Old Trafford has never felt more appropriate for United's home ground. Its reputation has suffered even more this season, from the leaky roof to a food hygiene rating of 1/5 for serving raw chicken.

As part of the deal, Ratcliffe has committed an additional £240 million to improve the stadium and Carrington training ground.

However, it will cost almost £1 billion for a complete redevelopment, and double that to rebuild Old Trafford, so INEOS has a major decision to make.