Sir Jim Ratcliffe Vetoed Man Utd Signing Over How Club Wanted to Structure Deal

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe reportedly stopped the club from signing a Premier League striker during the summer transfer window.

At 7 pm on Monday (September 1), the transfer window slammed shut and as ever, clubs were scrambling to get deals over the line right to the wire.

Alexander Isak joined Liverpool from Newcastle, with Yoane Wissa arriving at St James’ Park.

Meanwhile, there were departures from United. Antony rejoined Real Betis on a permanent deal worth £21.6m while Rasmus Hojlund joined Serie A champions Napoli on a season-long loan.

There was also one arrival with Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens arriving from Royal Antwerp.

Lammens, 23, became United’s sixth summer signing with the Red Devils having already welcomed Matheus Cunha, Enzo Kana-Biyik, Diego Leon, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko to the club.

However, there could’ve been more signings if it weren’t for Ratcliffe’s intervention.

Senne Lammens signed for Man Utd on deadline day (Credit:Getty)

According to a report from The Athletic, several strikers, including Liam Delap and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, were on United’s shortlist, with the club also making a “check call on Hugo Ekitike when Liverpool began their approach”.

Joao Pedro was also discussed, but somewhat surprisingly, his former Brighton teammate Danny Welbeck was of serious consideration before Ratcliffe stepped in and essentially vetoed the potential for a deal.

This came after Erik ten Hag reportedly wanted to sign Welbeck, 34, during his time at the club, but “United could not progress amid a new executive structure and uncertainty on the manager”.

This summer, the idea of signing Welbeck was revisited, and the Red Devils considered making a proposal concerning a two-year contract before “Ratcliffe was known to feel United could not sanction a two-year deal for a player who is 35 in November, and instead, a one plus one was discussed, but the offer was not formalised”.

This was not the first time Welbeck has been linked with a United switch, with Gary Neville putting the idea of a return forward earlier this year.

“He was let go too quickly at United," Neville told Sky Sports in February.

Danny Welbeck was considered by Man Utd (Credit:Getty)

“Now, Danny Welbeck wasn’t precise in his game back then, so he (Van Gaal) just let him go. He didn’t fancy him at all.

“But he’s actually perfect for how Manchester United should play. Threatening space in behind, playing off front players. This idea that he’s not good enough for Manchester United is absolutely rubbish.

"He’s good enough to be in a pool of three or four strikers at Manchester United. For instance, Liverpool have three, four, five forward players across their forward line. They’re all of differing abilities and different types.”

Of course, Welbeck came through the ranks at United’s academy and made 142 appearances for his boyhood club, winning the Premier League in 2012/2013, before signing for Arsenal in 2014.

He has since played for Watford and his current club, Brighton.