Jim Ratcliffe formally joins process to buy Man Utd

UK billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Chemical firm Ineos has officially entered the race to buy Premier League giant Manchester United.

United's owners the Glazer family said in November that they were considering selling the club as they "explore strategic alternatives".

Ineos said the company had "formally put ourselves into the process".

Ratcliffe made an unsuccessful late £4.25bn offer to buy Chelsea last year after owner Roman Abramovich put the London club up for sale.

Born the son of a joiner in Failsworth, in Greater Manchester, Ratcliffe is one of the UK's richest men and a boyhood fan of United.

He said he would have tried to buy the Old Trafford side following the failure to acquire Chelsea but, after meeting with brothers Joel and Avram Glazer, stated that they did not want to sell.

However, since then the Glazers have changed their stance and he has now joined the bidding process.

Ineos group owns Nice in France and Swiss club Lausanne.

Manchester United have been owned by the Glazer family since 2005.

They are fourth in the Premier League after an improvement in form under manager Erik ten Hag, who took over in the summer.

They beat local rivals Manchester City 2-1 on Saturday and are nine points off leaders Arsenal.