Liverpool can add to Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Man Utd woes with incredible free signing

If things aren’t going badly enough for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Manchester United already this season then Liverpool could be set to deliver another hammer blow. The INEOS chief has been the subject of fan protests this month over rising ticket prices, while his ruthless cost-cutting measures have come in for severe criticism.

Ratcliffe will be hoping the appointment of Ruben Amorim will at least prompt a change in club fortunes on the field, after Erik ten Hag was sacked following United’s worst ever start to a Premier League campaign.

But his hopes of boosting the Portuguese manager’s defensive options could now be in jeopardy thanks to the Reds.

Both clubs have been heavily linked with a move for Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies, who is out of contract at the end of the season. United’s motivation for signing the Canadian international is obvious, amid the ongoing fitness issues of Tyrrel Malacia and Luke Shaw.

Indeed, Ten Hag was forced to deploy makeshift options in that department last season while Noussair Mazraoui, who favours the right-hand side, has been forced to switch over for much of this campaign. The Moroccan had played alongside Davies, 24, at Bayern for the previous two years.

Liverpool also seemingly need to address that department, with Andy Robertson having struggled for form and fitness under Arne Slot. Greek international Kostas Tsimikas is currently sidelined with an ankle injury, but has often failed to convince when deputising for the Scot.

Davies, meanwhile, is nearing the end of his contract and in January can start negotiating a free transfer abroad for next season. And Bayern chiefs appear to be braced for his departure, with both parties failing to reach an agreement for a new deal after negotiations reportedly broke down.

And according to The Athletic, it’s the Premier League leaders currently leading the race to sign him. Arne Slot’s side have lost just once in all competitions this season, and have all but sealed their place in the last-16 of the Champions League.

Davies is said to view Anfield as a more attractive destination, with United currently undergoing a period of transition under Amorim. The new man has admitted he needs time to implement his ideas at Old Trafford, with the club heading into Sunday’s game against Manchester City still 13th in the table and eight points off the top four.

Davies, who has also been linked with Real Madrid, is unlikely to want to wait to challenge for major honours. He’s already won silverware galore with Bayern, including five Bundesliga titles and the 2019/20 Champions League.

Given Shaw’s latest injury blow, it is likely that Ratcliffe and co will have to look elsewhere in the market if Davies were to snub United. But having sanctioned another big spending spree in the summer, thus far with little reward, the minority stakeholder is unlikely to want to spend big for a world-class replacement.