Sir Jim Ratcliffe has already explained his Manchester United transfer thinking amid shock links
Ross Barkley is being linked with a sensational switch to Manchester United and he has a key admirer at Old Trafford in the shape of new investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
A report from The Sun claims United could look to the Luton Town midfielder this summer as they look to reinforce their squad options with players who are proven in the Premier League. Barkley has extensive experience in the English top-flight from spells at Everton, Chelsea and Aston Villa, as well as one season playing for Ratcliffe at French club Nice.
It was during his time in Ligue 1 that Ratcliffe spoke about the 30-year-old midfielder and revealed his frustration with coach Lucien Favre for not giving him or Aaron Ramsey enough playing time.
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"It’s driving me mad," he wrote in the book Grit, Rigour & Humour: The Ineos Story. "I keep saying, ‘[Dave Brailsford] – tell him.’ And Dave says, ‘I can’t tell Favre who to pick – he’s the coach.’ So I say, ‘Well, I’m paying the wages.’ Seriously, I don’t want to interfere but there comes a point.
"There’s clearly a good reservoir of Premier League players we can tap into. Because Nice is a nice place to be, even on loan. But if you start to get a rumour in the UK that it’s fine but you don’t get picked, it’s quite difficult to scotch. Look at (Aaron) Ramsey. He’s the best footballer we’ve got. He should be playing every week because, with game time, you settle down and confidence grows.
“It’s similar with Ross Barkley. I saw him at Chelsea and he’s a really good footballer. If his mind’s in the right place and he’s in really good shape, you could play him twice a week because he’s built like a
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