Man Utd beating Liverpool could cost them millions as INEOS count the cost

Manchester United beating Liverpool this weekend could end up costing the club millions of pounds. The Red Devils will be hoping for a victory against their fierce rivals to confirm their bid for Champions League qualification, but it could come at a high cost.

United are all but certain of a spot in next season’s Champions League, and a win against Liverpool would assure a top-five finish by beating the reigning Premier League champions. However, a clause written into the contracts of United’s biggest players would see them be forced to fork up large sums of money upon a return to Europe’s most prestigious competition.

It’s reported by the Times that a 25 per cent increase will be applied to the salaries of some United players should they see Champions League qualification over the line. It’s part of the reason they’re willing to let Casemiro leave, given the £350,000 per week base salary he pockets would jump to around £430,000 per week next season.

While INEOS and Co. might be saving some money by sanctioning Casemiro’s exit, there are still plenty of players in the United squad to whom this applies. Bruno Fernandes pockets around £300,000 per week, according to Capology, meaning his 25 per cent increase will equate to an extra £75,000 per week.

Convert that across a full year and it equates to an extra £3.9million in expenditure. Do the same to players like Matthijs de Ligt, Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo, who are all rumoured to be earning between £150,000 and £195,000 per week, and it’s easy to see how this adds up across a full season.

Manchester United v FC Bayern Munchen: Group A - UEFA Champions League 2023/24

Champions League football is set to return to Old Trafford... but at a cost (Image: Getty)

In a way, it’s been a helpful policy for United, as it’s allowed them to trim the wage bill during seasons where they’ve underperformed and missed out on the Champions League, or European football altogether. What’s more, United’s deal with kit supplier Adidas includes a £10m penalty for every season United aren’t in the Champions League.

The good news for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS is that Champions League football brings immense wealth. It’s estimated to be around £80m to £100m in revenue, meaning United should be able to cover the wage increases and compete for players in the transfer market without too many problems.