Erik ten Hag’s prediction comes true as Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Manchester United deal is delayed

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s pending 25% stake in Manchester United may not be announced until after Christmas, according to reports.

While results remain inconsistent on the field, Manchester United fans have been waiting for an off-field announcement of Sir Jim Ratcliffe‘s 25% purchase of the Old Trafford club after he beat Sheikh Jassim in the race for control.

Ratcliffe is expected to take over sporting control of Erik ten Hag‘s club and although the Dutch manager’s job is thought to be under no threat, there are multiple changes expected to take place higher up at the club.

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Original reports stated that United wanted to wrap up and announce the completion of the sale during the November international break. Still, with that having been and gone, there is now a fear that no announcement will be forthcoming until the new year.

This is according to the Daily Mail, where it is explained that the current most likely date for an announcement is the week beginning 18 December.

The report describes that sources from the United States say that ‘legal structural’ matters are behind what continues to push back the announcement and that there is a fear that should these remain unresolved in the next two weeks, the Christmas break could mean any announcement would have to wait until January.

Further to this, approval following the announcement is expected to take a further six to eight weeks to complete, meaning that it is incredibly unlikely that Ratcliffe and his INEOS team will have any influence in the January window.

This serves as a blow to Ten Hag, who has already predicted that there will be no transfers in January.

“I don’t think so,” he explained to United We Stand when asked if he thinks there will be any January incomings. “As a club, you have to look for improvements, so if you can find better and it’s realistic financially and with financial fair play (FFP), I think the club has to go with it.

“But realistically, in relation to the market, most of the time, you don’t attract the best players in the winter. The top, top players will not leave their clubs in the winter. It’s players who are disappointed, injured or just not the right fit or whatever.”

With INEOS not able to be involved in the winter window, the club will likely be unwilling to spend any money on signings in January, bringing Ten Hag’s prediction of next month to life.