Sir Jim Ratcliffe can gift Manchester United £13m transfer and block Liverpool plans

Manchester United's summer transfer plans are set to involve bargain deals and smart recruitment in Sir Jim Ratcliffe's first window at the club.

United are set to miss out on European football for next season after an uninspiring campaign under Erik ten Hag. Failure to even qualify for the Europa League or Europa Conference League means they will miss out on key revenue from continental competitions.

In the transfer window, Ten Hag - or a new manager, should INEOS choose to go down that route - could be restricted when it comes to transfer business. However, connections via Ratcliffe's involvement in football elsewhere could see them land one of Europe's most consistent performers.

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Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram was on Liverpool's radar last season but club - also owned by INEOS - demanded £34million. Now, with Thuram entering the final 12 months of his contract, his price tag has reportedly been slashed.

According to French outlet Nice-Matin, a mere £13m could be enough to tempt the Ligue 1 club into a sale. Liverpool are expected to be keen once again under incoming manager Arne Slot, but United hold a potential advantage in the deal given the INEOS/Ratcliffe link.

A number of Thuram's team-mates, such as centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo and goalkeeper Marcin Bulka, have also been linked with United ahead of the summer transfer window.

Ratcliffe faces a big challenge in transforming United's playing squad ahead of the 2024/25 season, and securing a quality holding midfielder for less than £15m would be a great coup - especially if Casemiro is