Man Utd to 'kiss goodbye' to £100m Europa League bonus if victorious against Tottenham as club's financial woes pile up

The Red Devils are aiming to earn a poor season in style on Wednesday by beating Spurs to win the Europa League and secure a place in next season's Champions League. Such a situation would earn the winning team a tidy bonus of £100m (€118m/$133m) but United would have to "kiss it goodbye" almost immediately, according to the Daily Mail.

United are currently on course to lose £100m this financial year, meaning any Europa League jackpot will vanish straightaway. Wall Street analysts are forecasting the club will announce a third-quarter loss of £40m shortly and estimate their current debts sit at an eye-watering £1bn.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has previously claimed Manchester United could have "gone by bust by Christmas," although those comments have been described as "very disingenuous" by football finance expert Kieran Maguire.

Wednesday's Europa League final has been billed as a game that neither Manchester United nor Tottenham can afford to lose. Both teams have endured disastrous Premier League seasons but know victory will provide a trophy and a lucrative place in the 2025-26 Champions League.