Manchester United officials are reportedly unconvinced by Sir Jim Ratcliffe's declaration that he wants to buy the club.
The INEOS owner publicly confirmed that he has entered "the process" to buy Man United from the Glazer family, who are willing to sell the club after 17 years in charge.
Ratcliffe, who is a Manchester United fan, has regularly been linked with an interest in taking over the club amid increasing protests against the Glazers' ownership in recent years.
The Englishman is understood to have held formal talks with the Glazers last year, only to be told that the club was not for sale at that stage.
Ratcliffe also went public with his desire to buy Chelsea in 2022, but by that stage the deadline for bids had passed and the Blues were eventually bought by a consortium led by Todd Boehly.
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The Daily Mail reports that Man United officials believe that his statement of intent to enter the bidding process is mainly down to a desire for publicity rather than a genuine interest in buying the club.
The report claims that members of the Red Devils' hierarchy believe Ratcliffe has no intention of meeting the Glazers' asking price of more than £6bn.
The 70-year-old, who has a net worth of a reported £12.7bn, is expected to face rival interest in Man United from bidders in the United States, Middle East and Asia.
The Glazers have not ruled out staying in charge of the club if they believe the offers on the table are insufficient, while they are also thought to be open to partial investment rather than a full takeover.
Any deal for the club could be completed before the end of the season, although the official bidding process is not yet underway.
Barney Corkhill
