Manchester United will return to the Champions League next season after securing their place in the top five of the Premier League - and that means handing out more cash to the players
Manchester United have made sure of their return to the Champions League next season in a huge boost to the club's finances. But the qualification for Europe's elite club competition also has a knock-on effect, with many players set to see their salaries increase significantly.
United's 3-2 win over rivals Liverpool made sure of a place in the top five this season, with Michael Carrick's side third on 64 points with three matches to play. The return to the Champions League was the main goal for Carrick when he was appointed interim manager in January - and it is crucial for the club's financial outlook.
UEFA pays each side in the league phase around £16.1million just for participating, while each win is worth a further £1.8m. There are more pay-outs as the competition progresses, as well as commercial opportunities and the ability to attract better players thanks to the allure of the competition.
United's lack of any European football whatsoever this season, following their 15th-place finish under Ruben Amorim, has proven costly, with the club recording a net loss of £6.6m for the first financial quarter in December due to diminished broadcasting revenue and ticket sales. Yet their return to the Champions League will also see their wage bill increase, with many of the first-team squad having clauses in their contracts related to the competition.
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It is understood that the majority of the squad will see their wages increase by 25 per cent next season. The Guardian reports that, for example, captain Bruno Fernandes will see his wages jump to £250,000 per week, while it is believed that Marcus Rashford and Andre Onana would also see an increase, if they are not sold this summer.
United are hoping that Rashford can be sold permanently to Barcelona, where he is currently on loan, and that a buyer can be found for Onana, who has spent this season with Trabzonspor in Turkey. They have already confirmed that Rasmus Hojlund will be off the wage bill next season after Napoli triggered their option to buy him.
However, Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire are among players to have recently signed new contracts, which have performance-related clauses in them so will increase thanks to Champions League participation.
Carrick is still yet to know whether he will land the full-time role as manager this summer. But he recently warned his players not to over-celebrate their achievement of returning the club to the Champions League.
"The Champions League is one thing, but it's not something that we should be over-celebrating either," he said. "We want to be finishing high up the league really and we want to be challenging high up in the league and trying to get more points so our season doesn't get to a close when that happens."
With a top-five finish assured, United will now aim to reduce the gap to rivals Manchester City in second place. They finish the campaign with games against Sunderland, Nottingham Forest and Brighton.