LONDON - British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe's purchase of a 25 per cent stake in Manchester United has been approved by the Premier League.
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An update to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Monday evening revealed the Premier League's decision to give the green light to Ratcliffe's investment.
United are still awaiting Football Association approval for the deal, which Ratcliffe said could be completed by mid-February and will give him control of football operations at Old Trafford.
It is understood that Premier League approval is contingent on the deal being completed, and therefore the league will not confirm it has given approval until or unless that happens.
It was reported on Tuesday that the process was moving towards a resolution.
The period in which holders of Class A shares can tender them for sale has been extended from February 14 until 23:59pm on 16 February.
So far 36.7 per cent of Class A shares have been tendered, already enough to complete the 25 per cent acquisition.
It was announced on Christmas Eve that INEOS chairman Ratcliffe had agreed to buy a 25 per cent stake in United from unpopular owners the Glazer family in a deal worth around £1.02 billion ($1.3 billion).
Ratcliffe will also invest a further £238 million in the club's infrastructure.
The 71-year-old has conducted a series of meetings with club staff and associates in recent days as the investment nears completion.
Ratcliffe has met leaders of the independent Manchester United Supporters' Trust and spoken with local leaders, including senior representatives of Trafford Council, and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham.
The boyhood United fan was also among those in attendance at the Munich Air Disaster memorial last week.
Ratcliffe is reportedly already planning to lead an overhaul of United's squad after a difficult season for a club that last won the Premier League in 2013.