British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, candidate to buy Manchester United, plans to modify his offer to finally enter the club’s capital as a minority shareholder, the press reported Monday evening.

Mr. Ratcliffe, founder of the chemical giant INEOS and owner in particular of OGC Nice (L1) and FC Lausanne-Sport (2nd Swiss division), is one of the two main candidates for the purchase of the club 20 times champion of England, with the Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani.

According to Sky News, Mr Ratcliffe could now seek a stake of around 25% in a proposal to end the painstaking sales process, after he initially wanted to make a majority acquisition.

The long saga surrounding the club’s takeover has the football world in suspense, with numerous offers presented by both Ratcliffe, a long-time fan, and Sheikh Jassim, but no progress has been made on a possible change of ownership , since the Glazer family announced in November that they were willing to sell the club.

United’s valuation on the New York Stock Exchange collapsed last month following reports that the Glazers might not sell after all.

If it accepts this new offer, the American family would retain majority control of the club it bought in 2005, despite the obvious hostility of supporters who are loudly demanding their departure.