How INEOS investment will affect Man Utd in January transfer window

Sitting in one of the few sections of Old Trafford below a patched-up roof, Sir Dave Brailsford was in attendance for Manchester United's final home game of 2023.

Two days after it was announced that INEOS had finally acquired a 25% stake in Manchester United, Brailsford — the company's director of sport and right-hand man to owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe — took cover in the crumbling home ground for a thrilling 3-2 victory over Aston Villa.

Aside from one less available seat in Old Trafford's executive suite, what impact will INEOS's investment have on Manchester United in the short term? As the January transfer window creaks open, here's how the boardroom reshuffle could impinge on Erik ten Hag's attempts to refresh his squad this winter.

Manchester United reaches agreement for Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Chairman of INEOS, to acquire up to a 25% shareholding in the Company.<a href=«https://twitter.com/hashtag/MUFC?src=hash&ref_src=» https:>#MUFC

As early as mid-October, Sheikh Jassim dropped out of the race to buy Manchester United, leaving a clear path for INEOS and Ratcliffe to complete a minority investment. However, it wasn't until Christmas Eve that the club confirmed the acquisition of a 25% share.

The Premier League's much-maligned owners' and directors' test has to be carried out on any investor that owns at least a quarter of the club's shares. Ratcliffe falls into this category and it will take a minimum of six weeks from the confirmation of his investment for England's top flight to deliver their seal of approval.

While it is highly unlikely that United will lose any personnel — for instance, the manager — before INEOS can officially get their feet under the table, the time restrictions of the January transfer window ensure