Sir Jim Ratcliffe ‘singled out Casemiro as example of questionable recruitment in March’ and ‘thinks investment in the Manchester United squad could be improved’

• Sir Jim Ratcliffe reportedly wants to upgrade Man United’s recruitment
• Spending on high-profile stars has been profligate – Casemiro cost £60million
•  Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’

Sir Jim Ratcliffe reportedly identified Casemiro as an example of questionable recruitment at a meeting with the Manchester United hierarchy in March. 

The billionaire, who is seeking a 25% stake in the club for £1.4billion, believes the club could build its squad more shrewedly, as reported by The Guardian. 

United’s imports have been hit-and-miss in recent years and they have topped the global spending table for the last decade, splashing out £1.67bn on new stars with little to show for it. 

Erik ten Hag has grown frustrated with the recruitment process at Old Trafford, according to Mail Sport sources, and would welcome a revitalised approach brought by Ratcliffe. 

Casemiro joined United for £60million on a four-year contract in 2022 and though he shone in his first season, the 31-year-old has looked jaded this campaign. 

Sir Jim Ratcliffe reportedly singled out Casemiro as a questionable signing 

He is waiting for his bid for 25% of the club to be ratified and wants control of the club’s footballing operations

Your browser does not support iframes.

Other high-profile signings such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho, Antony, and Donny van de Beek have either brought trouble or not justified their price tag.

While Ten Hag has been backed in the transfer market at United others at the club have misgivings about how their business is conducted. United’s transfer budgets for the last two summers have not been clear from the outset, leading to confusion internally about which players to target. 

Ten Hag was told he would have £60m to play with this summer by the Glazer family, but ended up spending £180m on six new players. 

In a deal which will see the unpopular Glazer family remain at the club, Ratcliffe waits for his bid for 25% of the club to be ratified this week – and has made it clear that he wants control of the football department. 

Sheikh Jassim and his group wanted complete control of United but their offer of around £5.5bn was short of the Glazers’ £6bn asking price and the Qataris have withdrawn from the race.  

Sources indicate that Ratcliffe would keep Ten Hag in his post despite a disappointing start to the season, and an extensive injury list is a huge mitigating factor.  

Ratcliffe is the chairman of INEOS, who own French side Nice, Swiss club Lausanne, and the INEOS Grandiers cycling outfit, formerly Team Sky. 

Recruitment at those clubs under Ratcliffe’s remit has so far failed to bring any major success and Nice fans have protested against INEOS and Ratcliffe. 

The absentee Glazers are happy to hand control of football operations to Ratcliffe and keep hold of the commercial side 

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Source: Read Full Article