The club’s current owners, the Glazer family, said in November that they were considering selling the club in order to “explore strategic alternatives.”

There was a lot of interest, but only two offers: one from Ineos and one from Qatari Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Both made bids of roughly £5 billion.

Sheikh Jassim’s team has always stated that he is solely interested in purchasing 100% of the club. Ratcliffe, on the other hand, stated that he desired a majority stake.

However, following months of what appeared to be passivity on the Glazers’ behalf, British industrialist Ratcliffe is now considering a fresh approach.

Purchasing a minority interest may not sit well with United fans, who have protested against the Glazer family both inside and outside Old Trafford.

Ratcliffe may view this strategy as his greatest long-term option for acquiring ownership.

The plan would allow the Glazer family to keep a large stake in United, while the specifics of any arrangement are unknown.