Fix Old Trafford, clear out deadwood – INEOS Manchester United to-do list as Sir Jim Ratcliffe prepares to take control

talkSPORT's chief football correspondent Alex Crook has detailed the main priorities for INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe at Manchester United.

Confirmation of the British billionaire's purchase of a 25 per cent stake at the Premier League giants was announced on Christmas Eve after months of negotiations in a deal understood to be worth £1.25billion.

Ratcliffe, who founded chemical company Ineos in 1998, is set to invest around £236million for the future investment of Old Trafford.

For the past decade, United have enjoyed little success on and off the pitch having won just three major trophies.

Long-standing discontent has also been shown from fans towards the Glazer family, who have owned the club since 2005.

Ratcliffe and his INEOS team have now been delegated responsibility of United's football operations, and Crook has revealed what he thinks needs to be addressed amid the club's fresh investment.

Speaking on talkSPORT Breakfast, he said: «In terms of the do-do list, I think what was interesting in that letter actually, he almost pleaded for patience with the Manchester United fans.

»He said, 'Yes, we want to get the club back to where we feel they belong, it will take time,' and you've mentioned it's taken time at Nice. I don't think he's promising an overnight fix because there are still FFP restrictions within which United have to operate.

«I think the first part of the job is to clear out the deadwood and there's still an awful lot of deadwood at that football club as far as I'm concerned.

»Trim the wage bill because I think they've got players earning far too much money for what they're actually producing on the pitch.

«Try and build a squad and a first team with an identity because I think that's been a big issue for Erik