Sir Jim Ratcliffe was spotted leading Sir Dave Brailsford and Dan Ashworth into his offices on Tuesday morning ahead of their highly-anticipated executive meeting.
Man United manager Erik ten Hag is under intense pressure after a woeful start to the season which leaves the 13-time Premier League champions 14th in the table on just eight points from seven matches – their worst ever start in the competition.
Two draws in the last week, including a 3-3 stalemate against Porto in the Europa League and a goalless run-out against Aston Villa yesterday, have staunched a string of defeats but done little to steady Ten Hag’s position.
Meanwhile, plans for a new Old Trafford stadium took another step forward last month as the first images of a potential regeneration were revealed.
With all of this considered, Ratcliffe was spotted leading Brailsford and Ashworth into his offices in Knightsbridge on Tuesday morning.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe (right) was seen arriving for a meeting with Man United’s chiefs on Tuesday
The United co-owner lead fellow staff inside his Knightsbridge offices ahead of the meeting
Sir Dave Brailsford (right) was among those who were spotted by ITV News arriving on Tuesday
Dan Ashworth smiled at cameras as he made his way inside the office
Minority owner Ratcliffe watched United’s goalless draw with Aston Villa on Sunday along with director Brailsford, chief executive Omar Berrada, sporting director Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox.
Discussions over Ten Hag’s future continued into Monday and it will be on the agenda again when co-chairman Joel Glazer, chief operating officer Collette Roche and chief financial officer Roger Bell join them for the executive committee meeting on Tuesday.
United are wary of fuelling speculation over Ten Hag’s future after Thomas Tuchel and Simone Inzaghi were linked with the job if he is sacked after two-and-a-half years in charge at Old Trafford.
Ratcliffe is known to be an admirer of Tuchel and met the German coach in Monaco during the summer when Ten Hag’s future was in doubt before the FA Cup final.
Tuchel is still available but it’s unclear if the obstacles that prevented him from replacing Ten Hag then can be overcome now.
Money was said to be one of them. It’s understood there has been no new contact between United and his representatives at this stage.
Tuchel’s potential appointment would see him return to manage in the Premier League for the first time since leaving Chelsea in 2022.
More to follow…