Manchester United set to avoid European ban after talks with UEFA

Manchester United are confident they will be allowed to compete in European competition next season despite a potential conflict of interest over Ineos's multi-club model, with Ligue 1 side Nice also on track to qualify for Europe.

UEFA have attempted to crack down on multi-club ownership and their latest rules stipulate that if two clubs from the same ownership group qualify for the same competition, only one will be allowed to enter. With United and Nice both of course to qualify for the Europa League, that could present an issue.

The current regulations state the highest-ranked side would be given priority and, with Nice currently fifth and United in sixth, it would mean the French side go into the Europa League, with United likely to drop into the Conference League.

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Ineos are majority stakeholders in Nice, while Sir Jim Ratcliffe's 28% investment into United was officially ratified earlier this year. To be allowed to compete in the same European competition, Ineos would need to prove to UEFA that there is enough detachment between the two clubs. They will have until June 3 to show UEFA that is the case.

Ratcliffe's team have been talking to UEFA ever since a deal to become minority shareholders in United was agreed and United have been encouraged by those discussions.

There were three cases of partner clubs being investigated over "potential conflict with the multi-club ownership rule" at the end of last season, but UEFA's Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) cleared all cases, allowing the six clubs involved to play. Brighton and Aston Villa were both