Manchester United takeover latest as Sir Jim Ratcliffe 'makes Old Trafford pledge'

Manchester United supporters could be close to discovering when Sir Jim Ratcliffe will be officially joining the boardroom at Old Trafford.

Since last month, Ratcliffe has seemed destined to invest in his boyhood club after Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani's withdrawal from the process. Having reconfigured his bid, the INEOS founder is set to acquire a 25 per cent stake in United and is reportedly still keen to buy the full club in time.

News of Ratcliffe's impending investment has been met with trepidation as many fans voiced their concerns about the Glazers remaining at United. However, a deal now looks inevitable and reports today suggest the 71-year-old will be looking to put his money into the Theatre of Dreams immediately.

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According to Sky News, Ratcliffe will be looking to commit £245m from his fortune towards improving United's infrastructure upon his arrival. Currently, Old Trafford is in desperate need of redevelopment with much of the stadium having become dilapidated.

It is understood this investment of cash will be staggered but the bulk of it would be handed over before the turn of the year. Sky also believes the deal will be announced publicly within a fortnight.

Mercedes Formula 1 chief Toto Wolff has said he is open to investing in United - and hinted he could even be joined in a future business venture by Lewis Hamilton.

Wolff is the executive director of Mercedes' Formula 1 branch alongside INEOS founder Ratcliffe. With plenty of speculation surrounding his business partner, Wolff was asked about the deal and his potential involvement in a press conference prior to the Brazilian