Manchester United have set out their transfer priorities under Sir Jim Ratcliffe and want to sign a top-class forward who is at a similar level to Harry Kane.

Ratcliffe expects his £1billion deal to buy a 25 per cent stake in United to be ratified early next month and he is already pressing ahead with plans to revitalise the club.

A new centre-forward to boost United's attack has been identified as a priority, with a No8, a centre-back and a right-back also targeted.

Any new forward is expected to play alongside £72million signing Rasmus Hojlund, who scored just his second Premier League goal in yesterday’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham.

Ratcliffe was in the directors’ box at Old Trafford for the first time since his takeover deal was announced last month and Hojlund retains the backing of senior United officials despite his difficult start to life in England.

Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise has been identified by United as a key transfer target ahead of a planned overhaul of their squad at the end of the season.

At centre-back, Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite and Nice's Jean Clair Todibo are admired, although many Premier League clubs are also targeting the defensive duo.

Most of the players being targeted will be difficult to sign in January, and to bring in players this month United first need to sell players to ensure they stay within Premier League spending rules.

But Ratcliffe’s investment is set to substantially increase the club’s ability to buy players in the summer without breaching financial rules, and United are plotting a big summer to kickstart the Ratcliffe era.

United are on the verge of selling midfielder Hannibal Mejbri to Sevilla for £17.5m after letting Jadon Sancho re-join Borrussia Dortmund on loan last week, with those deals providing more opportunity to spend this month.

Despite United's ongoing struggles, manager Erik ten Hag is actively involved in the transfer planning for both this month and the summer.

Ratcliffe will be given total control of football operations under the terms of his deal with the Glazers and the INEOS billionaire is pressing ahead with plans to overhaul a disastrous transfer strategy at the club.

Sir Dave Brailsford is leading an audit of the transfer structure at United, who are interested in bringing Dan Ashworth and Paul Mitchell into sporting director roles.