Glazers eyeing Man United sale once new stadium is built or City are expelled

The Glazer family are unlikely to sell Manchester United until either a new Old Trafford is completed or Manchester City are removed from the Premier League, according to ESPN. The report also reveals the American owners have grown increasingly frustrated with minority shareholder Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos operation.

Both scenarios would substantially raise United’s market value. A new stadium would increase the club’s asking price, while the prospect of operating without a dominant local rival in the top flight would make the club more attractive to prospective buyers. City were found guilty of all financial charges brought against them by the Premier League, and while a range of punishments — including a points deduction severe enough to trigger relegation — remain possible, the club has appealed against the verdict and no timeline for a decision has been confirmed.

Despite the conditions that might prompt a sale, there is reported to be little market interest in United at present, meaning a change of ownership does not appear imminent.

The Glazers’ frustration with Ineos centres on a series of expensive missteps since Ratcliffe took operational control. The sackings of Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim are understood to have cost the club close to £25 million combined. Joel Glazer was also reportedly angered by the way in which 500 members of staff were made redundant, taking issue with the manner in which the cuts were handled rather than the decision itself.

A source described as close to the Glazer family told ESPN: “The fans were all singing about the Glazers, but I’m not sure they realise how bad Jim is. He couldn’t have masterminded a worse situation. He’s downgraded in all departments. It’s basically the opposite of what he said his strategy is.”

Among the more costly calls under Ineos was the decision to hand Ten Hag a contract extension in June 2024, only to dismiss him four months later. Amorim’s subsequent sacking carried a compensation bill initially set at £16.7 million, later reduced to £8.2 million after the Portuguese manager was appointed by AC Milan.

Hundreds of millions have been spent on new signings during Ratcliffe’s tenure, with many of those arrivals failing to justify their fees on the pitch.