Manchester United on brink of £110m financial black hole as Sir Jim Ratcliffe nears takeover

Manchester United are staring a £110million financial blow which could haunt them over the next three years.

United have so far struggled in the Premier League and only some recent good form has clawed them up to sixth in the table.

And it means Erik ten Hag already has an uphill struggle to qualify for next season's Champions League with Tottenham, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City currently the favourites to finish in the top four.

United are already on the brink of exiting the Champions League after a hugely disappointing loss to Copenhagen just before the international break.

It has left them bottom of their group with Bayern Munich to face, as well as a trip to Istanbul to take on Galatasaray - a notoriously difficult venue to get a result at.

But crashing out of the Champions League at this stage and subsequently missing out of the top four will have disastrous effects on the club's finances, just as Sir Jim Ratcliffe prepares to seal his 25 per cent stake in the club.

The Sun reports the initial cost would be the loss of £8.35m for qualification plus £5m in gate receipts - around about £13.5m.

With total gate receipts included, that figure could reach up to £60m, while United would also miss out on playing at the revamped Club World Cup.

FIFA are expanding the competition in 2025, usually a footnote of the season, and tempting clubs to take it more seriously by implementing a £1billion prize pot.

The tournament will involve 32 teams from across the world, 12 from Europe, with Chelsea, Real Madrid, City and this season’s Champions League winners earning automatic berths.

The other eight clubs from Europe will be decided by a coefficient table over four years.

But United missing out would cost them around £50m in prize money.

They are currently seventh in the coefficient table but are at risk of tumbling down the order if their current Champions League form continues.

Ratcliffe's 25 per cent stake at Old Trafford is set to be announced in the coming days.

And that will also bring a raft of changes, including a switcheroo in the CEO hotseat with Richard Arnold making way for Jean-Claude Blanc.