Ratcliffe is said to be ‘unimpressed’ after learning more about Manchester United under the Glazers

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos group are ‘unimpressed’ by the behind-the-scenes workings at Manchester United with the British billionaire holding a number of meetings with the Premier League club’s co-chairman Joel Glazer.

If Ratcliffe was facing a battle to win over some sections of the Manchester United support, the sudden dismissal of the largely-unpopular Richard Arnold – and the likely appointment of the so-called ‘Messi of CEO’s’ Jean-Claude Blanc in his place – certainly feels like a big step in the right direction.

Don’t let the door hit you on your way out, Richard. At least, that was the reaction from most of a Red Devils persuasion when news of Arnold’s departure filtered through last week.

While Sheikh Jassim’s Qatari-backed PR machine were busy cranking out links with Kylian Mbappe, Ratcliffe’s was focused on genuine, structural change. The sort of behind-the-scenes transformation that would be more important than any new signing at Old Trafford.

Ratcliffe’s Manchester United revolution

An elite-level director of football – such as a Paul Mitchell – is an appointment United have needed for years, the club missing out on Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, Moises Caicedo, Julian Alvarez and more in the Ed Woodword and Richard Arnold eras. They also ignored the advice of former scout Marcel Bout when encouraged to take a look at Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong during their Ajax days.

Blanc, meanwhile, set both PSG and Juventus on their way to periods of unprecedented domestic success. One French football expert believes that the appointments of both he and Mitchell could be ‘the best moves Manchester United have made’ in years.

Talks with Joel Glazer

According to the Manchester Evening News, Ratcliffe has held several ‘virtual meetings’ with Joel Glazer ahead of the confirmation of his 25 per cent takeover. Further personnel changes are in the planning stage too, Ineos is ‘unimpressed’ by the club’s ‘departmental strategies’.

This implies a shake-up is imminent. John Murtough’s head could be the next to roll, followed by United’s Director of Football Operations David Harrison (The Mirror).

The Telegraph, meanwhile, believes that Mitchell is one of numerous potential appointments. United are also keeping tabs on Atalanta’s Lee Congerton, Crystal Palace’s Dougie Freedman, Atletico Madrid’s Andrea Berta and AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini.