Sir Jim Ratcliffe Man United investment an 'inspiration', says Erik ten Hag amid rumours of funding injection

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has spoken in glowing terms about the impact of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's involvement in the club, calling the billionaire an "inspiration" as he attempts to improve a season plagued by poor performances and reports of unrest at the underachieving Premier League giants.

Ratcliffe, whose INEOS group will pay around $1.7 billion (£1.3bn) for a 25 percent stake in the club and take over football operations, was pictured alongside Ten Hag at Old Trafford last week, with the under-pressure Dutchman describing lengthy talks between the pair as constructive.

Ten Hag's position has come under scrutiny as a consequence of a second year in charge that has fallen well short of supporters' expectations, including a dismal early exit from the UEFA Champions League and European competition, a tame Carabao Cup defence and a record of nine defeats from their first 20 league matches, leaving the 20-time champions eight points shy of fifth place.

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Sir Dave Brailsford, the former head of British Cycling, is known to have been analysing United's matches as part of his anticipated key role in Ratcliffe's plans, which may have little space for runs of the kind with which Ten Hag's side ended 2023.

Their 2-0 win to begin the year at third-tier Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup was only United's third in 10 matches in all competitions, including defeats against Newcastle United, Bournemouth, Bayern Munich, West Ham United and Nottingham Forest along the way.

Ratcliffe is expected to take a hands-on approach when it comes to transforming United's fortunes on the pitch, and a report from Football Transfers on January 9 suggested that could