Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has reportedly struck a deal with UEFA so that the Red Devils would be able to play in the same competition as OGC Nice next season. Both clubs are at least part-owned by INEOS, which presents problems under the European governing body's rules on multi-club ownership.
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UEFA's regulations stipulate that if two clubs from the same ownership group qualify for one of their competitions, only one of them will be permitted to enter. Whichever team finishes lower in their respective division would consequently be forced to drop down from the Champions League to the Europa League, or from the Europa League to the Europa Conference League.
Sir Jim owns a majority stake in Nice and a minority shareholding in United, with his 25-per-cent buy-in at Old Trafford going through earlier this year. Both clubs are on course to qualify for next campaign's Europa League as things stand.
According to The Daily Mail, United have been engaged in talks with UEFA for 'some time' over the possibility of multi-club ownership complications, even inviting general secretary Theodore Theodoridis to Old Trafford as a guest last month.
And the long-running talks have reportedly yielded a form of agreement, with United receiving assurances that they can compete in the same competition as Nice providing a number of as yet unspecified conditions are met.
The two clubs would have until June 3 to prove that they do not share administrative or management functions which, on the face of it, should not be an issue. United and Nice both retain an outside chance of making a successful late dash for Champions League qualification.
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A top-five finish should be enough for United due to the newly-expanded Champions League format. Qualifying for Europe's top-tier club competition could be essential to attracting ambitious transfer targets during the summer.
Erik ten Hag's side underperformed in this season's Champions League, finishing rock-bottom of Group A behind Bayern Munich, Copenhagen and Galatasaray. The Dutchman is hoping to build up credit ahead of Sir Jim's summer revamp.
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Omar Berrada has already been brought in from Manchester City to become the club's new CEO, and Dan Ashworth is firmly in line to become sporting director. It remains to be seen whether a change in manager is also on the cards.
England boss Gareth Southgate is reportedly the number-one choice to replace Ten Hag if Sir Jim opts to shake things up at the end of the season.
