Sir Jim Ratcliffe is believed to want Manchester United to implement a similar pay structure to that which has helped make local rivals Manchester City so successful.
Ratcliffe's impact is quickly being felt at Old Trafford, with the petrochemicals billionaire now properly in charge of football operations after his buy-in was made official last week.
United have been heavily criticised for a bloated wage bill that hasn't delivered what it should. The reports Ratcliffe is targeting a bonus-led pay structure, with players only earning the really big money if they are successful on the pitch.
Such a plan would promise to keep basic salary lower and allow players to top up their earnings for doing their job well, rather than rewarding mediocrity with enormous pay packets.
Incoming chief executive Omar Berrada, whose appointment was influenced by Ratcliffe's INEOS contingent before ratification of the partial takeover was given, has been tasked with setting the bonuses plan in motion after being instrumental in its effectiveness at City.
Having joined City from Barcelona in 2011 and initially focusing on sponsorships, Berrada was later promoted to chief operating officer in 2016 and effectively ran the club's day-to-day business. He moved closer to football in 2020 as chief football operations officer, also filling that role for the wider City Football Group. Berrada has an inside track on how to build an elite football club and Ratcliffe wanted to bring that expertise across to the red half of Manchester instead.
City's 2022/23 accounts showed wages in excess of £400m, dwarfing United’s £330m. But it was a season that had followed consistent Premier League titles and then triggered even more bonuses by winning the Champions
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