Sir Jim Ratcliffe is prepared to buy a significant minority stake in Manchester United as takeover talks continue to stall.'

Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim of Qatar have been battling for control of United for almost a year.

But communication with the club's owners, the Glazer family, has gone silent raising doubts over the process.

BBC Sport says Ratcliffe is now considering whether to offer to buy a minority stake in United in an effort to break the impasse.

The billionaire regards the different approach as his best way of securing the ownership in the long term.