- The INEOS billionaire is set to take charge of United's football operations
- But fans expecting sweeping changes on and off the field may be disappointed
- Roy Keane is right! Virgil Van Dijk is disrespectful. We all thought Man United would be stuck, so Erik ten Hag was right to set it up like that – It all starts
Manchester United could finally confirm Sir Jim Ratcliffe's £1.25 billion investment before Christmas, Mike Keegan has told Mail Sport It all starts show.
But fans hoping Ratcliffe's arrival will lead to the arrival of big names in January and wholesale improvements to Old Trafford are likely to be disappointed.
INEOS billionaire Ratcliffe is set to take a 25 percent stake in United and take control of its football operations.
There are hopes that the cash injection will allow United to keep pace with rivals such as Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal in the Premier League and compete in Europe.
Erik ten Hag's team is still lacking in several areas during a disappointing season, in which they are not on the right track in the competition and are already out of the Champions League.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe's buyout of a 25 percent stake in Manchester United is about to be confirmed
The billionaire's arrival comes at a time when United are enduring a disappointing season on the pitch
It remains to be seen what impact Ratcliffe's arrival at United will have on Erik ten Hag's side
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Deliver an update to It all starts On Monday Keegan said: 'The hope is still that it will be announced in the coming days before Christmas were the words given to me.
“I have a good source in the US and they believe the next few days are realistic.
'One caveat is that the approval process will take six to eight weeks. United fans listening may be thinking there is no transfer window to speak of.
'The transfer window, I'm told, doesn't expect any big moves from Manchester United and that has nothing to do with the takeover. This has to do with Financial Fair Play and the balance sheet.
'I'm told to expect the following: Jadon Sancho, on loan if they can find the right move for him, and Donny van de Beek, a move for him.
“It's not like this is announced and suddenly there are all these players that Sir Jim Ratcliffe's group have drafted and they come in.”
Ratcliffe's arrival comes with a promise of £250 million to improve infrastructure, including at Old Trafford, which has fallen into disrepair in recent years.
Outcast Jadon Sancho could be loaned out in January if the right opportunity presents itself
Rarely seen midfielder Donny van de Beek could also be in the window on his way out
It has been reported that £250 million has been earmarked for improvements to Old Trafford
However, Keegan has warned fans expecting a huge change that £250m will not go that far.
'United went away in 2022 and had the architects come up with a bunch of proposals for Old Trafford – and that applied to everything. Including toppling it and starting over,” he said.
'They went away and did that and came back with all kinds of different proposals, some of them to the tune of well over a billion pounds.
“£250 million now is not enough, according to people I've spoken to, not enough to topple the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand, given the increase in costs and what that would entail.
United's early exit from the Champions League will have a huge knock-on effect on their finances
'So for me the information from the INEOS side is that their priority is to find out what is happening on the field, rightly or wrongly.
“You go to Old Trafford a lot, it needs a lot of work, but I don't think it's going to get that work.
'I'd be surprised if they didn't do anything, but I think it would be more of a cosmetic facelift, if you can call it that. You might see a new lick of paint here and there.
“The corporate thing is the most important thing, that's the source of income. So I wouldn't be surprised if the shrimp roll brigade gets some nice new suites.
'I wouldn't expect any wholesale changes at Old Trafford.'