Ratcliffe receives EPL approval for his deal to buy a £1.3billion stake in Utd

Sir Jim Ratcliffe £1.3billion investment in Mancester United has received from the Premier League, with the deal expected to be fully completed next week.

Ratcliffe's INEOS group completed a deal for 25 per cent of the club in December, with the British billionaire intending to take control of the club’s football operations.

The 71-year-old has now passed the Premier League's Directors' and Owners' Test, the latest step for the deal being finalised.

Man United had filed to the US Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday, which confirmed the Premier League's approval.

The Premier League are expected to confirm this officially when the deal is fully completed.

Completion is expected next week with a couple of outstanding regulatory details still needing to be finalised.

This includes receiving FA approval, which is required for Manchester United's participation in the Women’s Super League.

Ratcliffe's tender offer had initially been due to expire on Wednesday, but this has now been extended until Februay 17 as the process approaches a conclusion.

The billionaire is buying 25 per cent of the Class B shares held by the Glazer family – which carry 10 times the voting rights of Class A shares – as part of his investment.

Ratcliffe is also purchasing up to 25 per cent of Class A shares and investing £239m into the club’s infrastructure.

Ratcliffe and his INEOS team have already proved that they are not afraid to act - and make bold decisions in the process - such as with the decision to poach Omar Berrada from rivals Manchester City to become United's new CEO.

The major coup - the first of the Ratcliffe-INEOS era - sees the highly-regarded exec move from cross-town rivals Manchester City.

Mail Sport earlier revealed that Berrada’s