Sir Jim Ratcliffe has told Erik ten Hag exactly what he wants to hear at Manchester United

Sir Jim Ratcliffe's long-standing interest in owning Manchester United became that bit more real on Friday night when the INEOS founder and boyhood Red tabled an official bid for majority ownership.

Promising to 'put the Manchester back in Manchester United', Ratcliffe's statement released on Saturday morning struck a chord with those around M16 who see him as the preferred option ahead of Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, the second Friday night bidder. Those inside the club will also have seen the 70-year-old's ambitions laid bare and made up their own minds.

Erik ten Hag insisted he and his players are fully focused on footballing matters but the Dutchman also hinted he is keeping an eye on any takeover business. "We are following it, it’s our club," he said in his press conference before Sunday's game against Leicester City.

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At some point on Saturday in between the last-minute preparations for the visit of Brendan Rodgers' side, the United boss will no doubt have caught Ratcliffe's statement promising to invest in the club and to make it 'the number one club in the world again', but it may be the final sentence that provided the most promise.

"We want a Manchester United anchored in its proud history and roots in the North-West of England, putting the Manchester back into Manchester United and clearly focusing on winning the Champions League," it read.

Ten Hag has made clear his desire to get United winning the Champions League, and is doing his part in cementing a top-four finish this season in order to qualify. It is Europa League this season, however, even if a knockout game against Barcelona has the feel of being part of Europe's