Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Manchester United revolution takes another crucial step forward

Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Manchester United revolution has taken another step closer to reality after the Premier League approved his investment.

The billionaire United fan has passed the League's owners and directors test, clearing another hurdle in his bid to rejuvenate his boyhood club. Ratcliffe is on the verge of officially coming on board at United and his next step is for his deal to be signed off by the FA.

This could happen in a few days and Ratcliffe has already made significant moves in his new role as head of United's football operations.

Ratcliffe has offered to buy 25 per cent of the United's A shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange and he has until just before midnight on Friday to complete this transaction.

This will go through as long as he has the approval of the Premier League and the FA, which should be formalities. The shares will then be sold and transferred to his control. United confirmed Ratcliffe's latest successive step when the club said: "We have secured the approval of the Premier League."

"Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s acquisition of 25 per cent of Manchester United FC, and further investment of $300 million in the club, has been approved by the Premier League Board following the completion of the Owners’ and Directors’ Test (OADT)," a Premier League statement read.

"The Board agreed to the change of the club’s ownership structure last week, and this has now been officially ratified by an Independent Oversight Panel. The Premier League’s Owners’ Charter has also been signed.

'This is the first acquisition of Control to be reviewed and approved by a new Independent Oversight Panel following changes to the process which were agreed by Premier League clubs in March 2023. The Premier League now awaits