[ NEW BOARD GAME ]
Sir Jim is set to have huge influence behind the scenes at Old Trafford after assuming control of United's sporting operation from the Glazers. The 71-year-old and his team of INEOS specialists will also be consulted on business matters after their minority buy-in was signed and sealed on Tuesday.
Not only will Sir Jim be looking inward to see what United could be doing better, but he also believes lessons can be learned from Liverpool and City - two local rivals he is desperate to 'knock off their perch'.
"We have a lot to learn from our noisy neighbour [City] and the other neighbour [Liverpool]," admitted Sir Jim. "They are the enemy at the end of the day.
"There is nothing I would like better than to knock both of them from their perch. [Sir Alex] was the first one who came out with that expression. I am in the same place as Alex - 100 per cent. He was fiercely competitive and that is why he was successful.
"We have to be the same. They have been in a good place for a while, and there are things we can learn from both of them. They have sensible organisations, great people within the organisations, a good, driven and elite environment that they work in. I am very respectful of them - but they are still the enemy."
All eyes will be on Sir Jim this summer when he oversees his first transfer window with the Red Devils. United have spent heavily on new recruits in recent years without making significant ground on their Premier League rivals.
Financial Fair Play restrictions are set to keep INEOS' billions on a tight leash. But manager Erik ten Hag will hope Sir Jim puts together a more effective framework behind the scenes, as the mission to catch United's two noisy neighbours gets underway.
