Ratcliffe’s 27.7 per cent £1.03bn partial takeover of Man Utd was finally completed on Tuesday.

But for weeks, the 71-year-old and Ineos performance director Sir Dave Brailsford have been running the rule over operations at Old Trafford.

Man Utd are set to have money to spend on revitalising their squad this summer.

But with concerns over complying with FFP rules in mind, Ratcliffe is set to sanction a huge number of player sales this summer.

According to ESPN, the Red Devils will make 11 first team players available for transfer.

While Anthony Martial will not be offered a new deal and will be allowed to leave on a free.

Former captain Harry Maguire and ex-Real Madrid duo Raphael Varane and Casemiro are among those who could be sold.

While United will consider bids for the likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Scott McTominay, Victor Lindelof and Christian Eriksen.

Meanwhile – Donny van de Beek, Jadon Sancho, Facundo Pellistri and Brandon Williams are currently out on loan.

All four will reportedly be allowed to leave at the end of the season.

United chiefs want to improve their side’s quality across the entire squad this summer.

In particular, they are keen to strengthen in defence and up front.

The Red Devils want to appoint Newcastle’s Dan Ashworth as sporting director, but are currently unwilling to pay the Toon’s £20m asking price.

Ratcliffe said: “Talking about £20m seems a bit silly, personally. I won’t get dragged into that.

“What I do think is completely absurd is suggesting a man who is really good at his job sits in his garden for one-and-a-half years.”

The British billionaire also echoed Sir Alex Ferguson when outlining his ambitions for the club.

Referencing Manchester City and Liverpool, he said: “We have a lot to learn from our noisy neighbour – and the other neighbour.

I am in the same place as Alex – 100 per cent

Sir Jim Ratcliffe

“They are the enemy at the end of the day. There is nothing I would like better than to knock both of them off their perch.

“I know that Sir Alex was the first one who came out with that expression. I am in the same place as Alex – 100 per cent.

“He was fiercely competitive and that is why he was successful. We have to be the same.

“But they have been in a good place for a while and there are things we can learn from both of them.

“They have sensible organisations, great people within the organisations, a good, driven and elite environment that they work in. I am very respectful of them but they are still the enemy.”

4Man Utd want to appoint Dan Ashworth as sporting director