LONDON: Billionaire businessman Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly interested in buying Manchester United – if the owning Glazer family decide the dividends are not worth the fan-led aggro.

Ratcliffe, from Greater Manchester originally, owns cycling team Ineos Grenadiers, French Ligue 1 club Nice and Switzrland’s FC Lausanne-Sport.

The 69-year-old, a United supporter, tabled a last-minute £4.25bn bid to buy Chelsea this summer but saw his offer rejected as American businessman Todd Boehly successfully took over the club.

Ratcliffe’s interest comes after a report that the Glazers, who bought the club in a controversial leveraged deal in 2005, are considering selling a minority stake to a potential new investor.

United are bottom of the English Premier League after the first two rounds of matches and face Liverpool at Old Trafford next Monday.

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