Finance expert: Man United hit by new stadium blow

Jan 10, 2026 - 14:00

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is facing financial issues away from Man United which could lead to huge new investment being required.

That is according to football finance expert Dr Dan Plumley, speaking exclusively told Football Insider, amid INEOS being in £18billion of debt.

Man United owner Ratcliffe may have to step back from the club to focus on rescuing INEOS from their financial problems.

Investment may be needed at Man United with the Premier League club also facing debts of over £1bn.

Man United CEO Omar Berrada and co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe — Credit: Imago

Man United stadium plans cited amid ‘significant debt’ claim

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Plumley believes INEOS’ situation will not affect Man United in the short-term.

“I’d say it’s unlikely to affect them in the here and now,” Plumley said.

“You know, lots of companies carry significant debt, and we know that that’s structured in various ways. So, it wouldn’t appear to affect the overall sort of day-to-day operation at the club in the here and now.

“Moving forward and from an investment proposition, I think all things are possible there, you know, all the way through. And I will point to the stadium plans as an example of that.

“It’s likely that if United press on with those plans as they look to be doing, you would need other investment to come in to help to support projects like that because, you know, even despite the investment that INEOS promised and the way they’ve looked at that, they can’t do a stadium build like that all on their own.

“So I think that’s where you would look to further investment, maybe coming in for capital infrastructure projects like the stadium rather than potentially a stake in the club at the moment.”