Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s group are set to take control of football operations at Manchester United should their 25 per cent investment be agreed by the club’s board later this week.
The petrochemicals billionaire appears to have won the race for the Premier League giants after his main rival, Qatari Sheikh Jassim, withdrew his offer on Saturday night.
Ratcliffe, a lifelong United fan, will pay around £1.4bn for a quarter share at Old Trafford, in the first step in what is being viewed as a staged buyout.
His proposal is expected to be ratified over the coming days and it is understood that in return, his group will be handed the reins to the sporting side of the business as they seek to restore United to former glories.