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News of the 69-year-old's interest follows a Bloomberg report that the Glazer family are willing to sell a minority stake in the club.

"If the club is for sale, Jim is definitely a potential buyer," Ratcliffe's spokesperson told The Times.

"If something like this was possible, we would be interested in talking with a view to long-term ownership."

United, 20-time English champions, are bottom of the Premier League after losing both their opening games of the season under new manager Erik ten Hag.

The woeful start has intensified criticism of the Glazers and their perceived lack of investment in the team.

This summer has seen new signings fail to materialise, including a fruitless pursuit of Barcelona's Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong, while superstar striker Cristiano Ronaldo could leave Old Trafford.

The club has struggled since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 and has not won a trophy since 2017.

There have been multiple protests against the Glazers' ownership in recent years, including one in May 2021 which caused the Red Devils' home league match against Liverpool to be postponed, according to BBC.

United fans are planning another protest against the American family during their latest meeting with their Anfield rivals on Monday at Old Trafford.

Lancashire-born Ratcliffe, the majority shareholder of chemical group Ineos, is a boyhood fan of the club. He also owns French side Nice, Swiss club Lausanne-Sport and Ineos Grenadiers cycling team, while Ineos has a partnership with the Mercedes F1 team.

"This is not about the money that has been spent or not spent," the spokesperson added. "Jim is looking at what can be done now and, knowing how important the club is to the city, it feels like the time is right for a reset."

Earlier on Wednesday, Elon Musk, the world's richest man, said he was joking after tweeting he was going to buy United.

Musk, 51, is reported to have a net worth of $270bn (£223bn) according to Forbes, while Ratcliffe is worth an estimated $16.3bn (£13.5bn).

In May, Ratcliffe made an unsuccessful £4.25bn offer to buy Chelsea after owner Roman Abramovich put the London club up for sale.

At the time, Ratcliffe told BBC Sport he was still a Manchester United fan and the reason he was not bidding for the Red Devils is because they were not for sale, BBC reported.

Nunez, signed from Benfica in a deal worth an initial £64m, will have a restless night before facing Klopp after making the worst possible introduction at Anfield.

The Uruguayan has made a fine early impression with goals in the Community Shield win against Manchester City and the opening league draw at Fulham, but this incident which saw him sent off demonstrated a side of his character that will alert the more mischievous Premier League defenders and ensure Klopp must deliver some home truths ahead of his forthcoming three-match ban.

If there is one thing Nunez can take from his embarrassment, it is that it is better to learn your lessons early in the Premier League, and the 23-year-old certainly suffered a harsh one here.

Yes, there was what may be politely termed 'argy-bargy' with Palace defender Joachim Andersen, but Nunez's response was mindless - a headbutt that sent his opponent to the floor and referee Paul Tierney reaching for his red card.

It rules Nunez out of Liverpool's trip to Manchester United next Monday for starters, even more costly as Klopp needs all hands on deck as he juggles injury problems. He will also miss home games against Bournemouth and Newcastle United.

Nunez had worked tirelessly but gave the impression of someone trying just a little to hard to make the big impression, volleying one good chance over at the far post then bundling another opportunity against an upright in the closing seconds of the first half.

There is no doubt that graphic illustration of a short fuse will see Nunez's temperament tested now, but this chastening evening will surely form the basis of a vital learning experience, according to BBC.

Nunez has huge shoes to fill following the departure of Sadio Mane but Klopp is aware of the pressures and is more likely to adopt the arm around the shoulder rather than the big stick when it comes to handling his new striker, who looked shattered as he made his way to the dressing room.

Klopp, rightly, made no attempt to mount a defence or give an excuse for Nunez. It was an open and shut case.

Liverpool deserved the point Luis Diaz's brilliant equaliser gave them, a show of resilience with a numerical disadvantage, but Palace will also feel they earned theirs.

There was a sense of anticlimax at the final whistle at Anfield, with anxious Liverpool supporters already flagging up Manchester City's four-point advantage after only two games as they made their way out.

Of course, it is nonsensically premature to talk about this in the long-term context after only two games of the Premier League season, but so high has the bar been set by City and so imperious have they looked after the addition of Erling Haaland that such concern is almost understandable.

City have put their rivals under pressure from the start to such an extent that they know they cannot afford too many slip-ups from day one - and Liverpool have had two in two games.

It is, however, early days and Klopp will be hoping the list of injuries to key figures reduces so that Liverpool can hit their familiar, irresistible stride.

And Liverpool can take some heart from the outstanding display from 19-year-old Harvey Elliott, mature beyond his years, prompting, probing, always demanding the ball and fully deserving of the standing ovation he received when he was substituted.

Diaz was the goalscorer and much more. He led from the front after Nunez's dismissal, scoring a brilliant equaliser four minutes later, making a slalom run past Palace defenders from the left flank before firing home a 20-yard finish, BBC reported.

Liverpool were far from their best and it has been an undistinguished opening two games.

They will hope the sight of the Manchester United side they thrashed on two occasions will provide inspiration at Old Trafford next Monday - even without Nunez.