As things may be heading in the right direction on the pitch, behind the scenes it remains as chaotic as ever at Manchester United.

It is safe to claim there is a consortium, of sorts, wanting to complete a full takeover of the club and send the Glazers packing for good. That would not only mean the end of two decades of their much-maligned stewardship, but also of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s tumultuous short tenure as a co-owner.

Supporters shouldn’t be getting too carried away just yet.

However, Ratcliffe cannot block any full sale if someone is willing to purchase 100 per cent of the shares, due to the “drag-along rights” included in the transaction when the Glazers sold Ineos a minority stake. The clause became active 18 months after Ratcliffe’s investment.

A full sale has always been part

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