Key Manchester United takeover questions answered as Sir Jim Ratcliffe agrees £1.25bn deal

Manchester United announced on Christmas Eve that Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chairman of INEOS Group, will buy a 25 per cent stake in the club in a deal worth £1.25 billion.

INEOS will take over the management of United’s football operations once the move is approved by the Premier League. The club’s United States-based owners, the Glazer family, revealed their intention to undertake a strategic review of their options, including the possibility of selling up, in November 2022.

Ratcliffe and Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim were both in the running to oversee a buyout of the club until October. Sheikh Jassim withdrew his bid for full control of the club on October 14, with Ratcliffe’s focus shifting to taking a significant minority stake.

READ MORE: Bruno Fernandes has sent transfer message to Manchester United ahead of January window

READ MORE: Sir Jim Ratcliffe sends fresh message to Manchester United fans following takeover breakthrough

Changes could now be on the horizon at Old Trafford, and here the Manchester Evening News looks at what the takeover update will mean for the club.

Well, not much will change immediately as the Glazer family still holds the majority of shares. However, INEOS will be responsible for managing the club's football operations, including both the men's and women's teams and the academies.

The deal was announced on Christmas Eve, but it hasn't been finalised yet. It needs to be approved by the Premier League and announced on the New York Stock Exchange, which could take between four and six weeks.

Ratcliffe, a lifelong United fan, has lots of experience in sports management. He owns the French football team Nice, the INEOS Grenadiers cycling team, the Britannia sailing team led by Sir Ben