English clubs muscle in on the money league

Manchester United have been predicted to return to the top of football’s ’Money League’ for the first time in 12 years as English clubs increase their financial stranglehold on the game in Europe.

United’s return to the top of the Deloitte’s money league has been forecast despite the club dropping into third place in the latest rankings behind Real Madrid and Barcelona, mainly due to last’s season Champions League absence.However United’s return to Europe’s elite club competition and the impact of a huge new adidas sponsorship deal should see United take over at the top of from the Spanish giants for the first time since 2004.

English clubs dominate the top 30 of the world’s richest clubs – no fewer than 17 of the 20 Premier League clubs are ranked in the top 30 — and their position will become even stronger from from next season when the huge new Premier League TV deals — expected to top £8 billion (€10.3 billion) over three years – come on stream.