- Sir Jim Ratcliffe is getting close to purchasing a 25 percent share in Manchester United.
- Already a billionaire, this man owns the French club Nice.
- It’s possible that Manchester United will try to acquire some of their top players.
Nice boys / George Wood/Getty Images, VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images, Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images
Even though it won’t be the complete takeover that Manchester United fans were hoping for, it looks like this story around Old Trafford is finally coming to a conclusion.
Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, a Qatari financier, withdrew his bid for a share in the club, allowing Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS to move closer to acquiring a holding equal to 25 percent of the business. Ratcliffe has devised a strategy that calls for him to finally assume complete control of United.
The 70-year-old will bring a plethora of knowledge and relationships in top-level sport with him, and he has already begun to dabble in the world of football as the owner of the French team OGC Nice.
After starting the season undefeated in all eight of their matches and hiring Francesco Farioli, a disciple of Roberto De Zerbi, as their manager, Les Aiglons are having a lot of success in Ligue 1 this year. They are now in second place in the standings.
Who are some of the players that Ratcliffe could target for transfer from Nice to Manchester United, assuming that he eventually joins the Red Devils? 90 seconds gives it a look.
Jean-Clair Todibo
Todibo has forced his way into the France setup / Koji Watanabe/GettyImages
- Position: Centre-back
- Age: 23
- Fun fact: Recipient of the fastest red card in Ligue 1 history (nine seconds)
Let’s start with a player that United have an active interest in – France international Jean-Clair Todibo.
Those of you with an above-average memory and knowledge of European football might remember his short-lived spell as Barcelona’s next hope. Between 2019 and 2021, he made five appearances for La Blaugrana and was loaned out three times before signing for Nice on a permanent deal.
Todibo formed quite a partnership with Arsenal loanee William Saliba upon his arrival at the Allianz Riviera and has since blossomed into one of his country’s more authoritative centre-backs.
Okpops reported in August that Todibo was being monitored by United in case they managed to shift Harry Maguire, but he ended up staying at Old Trafford.
Khephren Thuram
Thuram has been tipped to leave Nice / Jean Catuffe/GettyImages
- Position: Central midfielder
- Age: 22
- Fun fact: Named after an Egyptian Pharaoh
Son of Lillian and younger brother of Marcus, midfielder Khephren Thuram is making his own waves in football.
A gangly yet aesthetically pleasing and unique box-to-box midfielder, Thuram has already caught the eye of some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
United are actually pretty well-stacked in the midfield department right now, but if they ever needed another gigantic midfielder, they know where to find one.
Marcin Bulka
Bulka is a beloved personality / Jean Catuffe/GettyImages
- Position: Goalkeeper
- Age: 24
- Fun fact: Ligue 1 winner, technically
Right, this is a little bit of projection on our part, but there’s still method in the madness.
Marcin Bulka’s tally of eight appearances for Nice this term is one away from matching his record for games in a season, so he’s still fairly inexperienced.
That said, the Polish goalkeeper has proven to be one of the best shot-stoppers in Ligue 1 so far, keeping five clean sheets and notably saving two penalties from Folarin Balogun in a milestone win at rivals Monaco.
Having spent three years in Chelsea’s youth ranks, he would count as a homegrown option for English teams. Football Manager players, get your squad-planning tools ready.
Terem Moffi
- Position: Striker
- Age: 24
- Fun fact: Played at the Buckswood Football Academy in Hastings as a teenager
The path to stardom has been an unorthodox one for Nigeria’s Terem Moffi.
After leaving his home country at the age of 17 but failing to make it in England, he managed to kick-start his career playing in Lithuania. A move to Belgium with Kortrijk followed, and for the last three years, he’s been tearing up France with Lorient and Nice.
Okpops reported back in January that Premier League clubs were keeping tabs on Moffi prior to his move to the Mediterranean coast
If United want a suitably physical deputy to Rasmus Hojlund, Moffi could be their man, as best evidenced by his manhandling of Paris Saint-Germain above.
