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'We can't compete with Brighton' - Ratcliffe to transform Man United with groundbreaking plan
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is ready to put Man United at the centre of a top-level multi-club network as he vies to compete with other top English clubs, sources have told Football Insider.
Ratcliffe and his company INEOS are expected to run football operations at Old Trafford when a deal to purchase 25 per cent of the club is completed.
And a well-placed source has told Football Insider that plans for a multi-club model are “key” to the billionaire’s proposals.
A similar system has been used to great effect by Premier League clubs such as Brighton and Man City – while RB Leipzig and RB Salzburg have benefitted from a similar set-up elsewhere in Europe.
One source told Football Insider: “At the moment, we just can’t get the best young players in and that’s killing us – we can’t compete with Brighton, never mind Man City”.
As things stand, Man United are unable to sign international Under-18 players due to Brexit – and that is hugely affecting their ability to source and develop elite young talent.
Conversely, rivals such as Brighton and City can bring promising youth to the club after nurturing them at another club in their owners’ portfolio.
Ratcliffe has a vision to take advantage of a similar system, and it is believed he sees United as capable of heading a worldwide group of partner clubs.
INEOS and the billionaire already own Ligue 1 outfit OGC Nice and Swiss side Lausanne and they would be incorporated into any network.
Ratcliffe is eyeing big investment into the footballing side of operations at Old Trafford, but is also keen to curb their wild spending by introducing a multi-club model aimed at bringing the best young talent to the club.
Man United have spent just over £1billion on signings since the start of the 2017-18 season but are yet to mount a real title challenge in that time.
Manager Erik ten Hag was handed big funds in the most recent summer window but Football Insider has revealed (3 November) that Ratcliffe plans to replace him with Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi.
In other news, Man United cost of sacking Ten Hag revealed.