Manchester United takeover latest as Sir Jim Ratcliffe 'ready to follow' Chelsea model amid Sir Alex Ferguson verdict

Wednesday marks exactly one year since the Glazers announced plans for a strategic review and Manchester United are finally closing in on the change they so badly need.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been expected to take a minority stake in United ever since the withdrawal of Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al Thani in October. The INEOS chief will purchase 25 per cent of the club for a fee believed to be around £1.4billion.

Despite being a minority shareholder, Ratcliffe is expected to take control of footballing matters and the wheels are already in motion. Chief executive Richard Arnold resigned last week and MEN Sport understands sporting director John Murtough will follow.

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Here are your latest takeover headlines.

United are 'ready to follow' Chelsea's recent model of hiring multiple sporting directors, according to talkSPORT.

Ratcliffe is expected to oversee major change once his minority stake in United is ratified. Murtough is expected to follow CEO Arnold out of the exit door, following several years of poor investment on the pitch.

Chelsea owner Todd Boehly hired two sporting directors, Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, to oversee £1billion of spending in the last three windows. And Ratcliffe could do the same, with Paul Mitchell reportedly likely to be joined by another transfer chief.

Crystal Palace's Dougie Freedman and Palo Maldini, formerly of AC Milan, have been linked.

Sir Alex Ferguson says he is feeling 'optimistic' about Sir Jim Ratcliffe's imminent investment in Manchester United.

The British billionaire is on the verge of securing a 25 per cent stake in United worth £1.3 billion, with