Aug 17 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

The Times

A spokesman for the Ineos billionaire confirmed that Ratcliffe would welcome the chance to talk to the club's American owners. "If the club is for sale, Jim is definitely a potential buyer," the spokesman said. Link

Wood Group WG.L has secured more than $200 million of contracts in Uzbekistan. The Scottish engineering and consulting company will deliver technical plans and support during the design, construction and start-up of a mineral processing plant near Almalyk city. Link

The Guardian

More than 115,000 UK postal workers have voted overwhelmingly for further industrial action over working conditions, ahead of four days of strikes already planned for later this month and early September. Link

The Telegraph

The owner of Madame Tussauds, Merlin Entertainments has been hit with a winding up petition by Experian as the leisure operator seeks to bounce back from the upheaval of pandemic lockdowns. Link

The owner of Ladbrokes, Entain ENT.L has been fined a record 17 million pounds ($20.49 million) after failing to spot problem gamblers and money laundering, including allowing one suspicious customer to spend 186,000 pounds ($224,148.60) on its sites. Link

Sky News

The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rose to 10.1% in the 12 months to July, up from 9.4% in June and remaining at the highest level since February 1982, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. Link

Made.com Group MADE.L , the online furniture retailer, has drafted in advisers to help shore up its balance sheet as it weighs plans for a share sale to raise approximately 50 million pounds ($60.26 million). Link

The Independent

Christine Farnish, Ofgem director has quit the energy regulator, saying she "could not support" its decision to add hundreds of pounds to household bills. She said the energy watchdog had not "struck the right balance between the interests of consumers and the interests of suppliers". Link

At least three consortiums are circling Manchester United MANU.N with a view to a formal bid, as belief grows the Glazers would sell the club for $6 billion. Link

($1 = 0.8298 pounds) (Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)