Sir Jim Ratcliffe is close to finally completing his purchase of a minority stake in Manchester United, bringing the year-long uncertainty over the club's ownership to an end.
The INEOS chief prevailed in a head-to-head battle with a Qatari consortium led by banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al Thani last month but now stands on the verge of finalising the £1.3billion acquisition of 25 per cent of the club.
Ratcliffe, a boyhood United fan, had initially lodged a bid for a majority stake in the club, however with no breakthrough in sight, an adjusted offer for a quarter did the trick.