Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly targeting four major signings to help try and transform Manchester United‘s team this summer.
Ratcliffe is waiting on Premier League ratification of his £1.3billion minority takeover for 25 per cent of the club.
The British billionaire and his Ineos team will take charge of football operations at Old Trafford as part of the deal and all eyes are reportedly on summer recruitment.
The Evening Standard detail how Ratcliffe, who was in the directors’ box on Sunday to see the draw against Tottenham, and his aides have identified a new No 9 as a ‘prioirty’, as well as a No8, a centre back and a right back.
United have struggled badly for goals this season and it is reported that United are targeting a Harry Kane-level striker, someone they believe to be of the ilk of the Bayern Munich and England star.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe reportedly has major plans to restructure Manchester United’s playing squad
Four major signings have reportedly been identified to bolster Erik ten Hag’s (left) squad
Many at United longed to sign Kane before he went to Bayern Munich, with a belief that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy would not have sold to his counterparts at Old Trafford under any circumstance.
Instead United moved for youngster Rasmus Hojlund for £72m and despite his fine strike to open the scoring against Tottenham, it was only his second Premier League goal of the season so far.
Ratcliffe saw both the good and the bad of United during Sunday’s match, where question marks on their defending at set pieces again raised alarm, but remains optimistic looking forward.
He described investing in United as the most exciting thing he has ever done when speaking at an informal get-together with the media before the match on Sunday
Ratcliffe: ‘It’s the first match for me since we got here.
‘I am very excited to be here, but I can’t answer any questions really.. It’s a big match. We normally do well against Spurs.’
British billionaire Ratcliffe (right) spoke with the media for the first time ahead of attending his first match at Old Trafford, with Manchester United set to host Tottenham
Manchester United have reportedly held discussions over a summer swap deal involving Aaron Wan-Bissaka (left) and Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise (right)
He will be under no illusions that Ten Hag’s squad needs restructuring come the summer and there have been multiple links to Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise.
United have reportedly held discussions over a summer swap deal involving Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Palace winger Olise.
Ratcliffe and his Ineos team are said to have identified Olise as one of their primary targets for the summer window and are willing to offer Crystal Palace Wan-Bissaka to sweeten the deal.
The swap deal would see Wan-Bissaka return to Selhurst Park – having forged his career in their academy before signing for United in 2019.
Discussions over the swap deal have begun, with the transfer likely to take place during the summer window, according to ESPN.