Manchester United players 'facing big pay cut next season'

Manchester United will reportedly cut their players' wages by 25% next season if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.

The Red Devils face a real battle to hold down a spot in the Premier League's top four, as they currently sit in sixth place following a 1-1 draw with Stoke City on Saturday.

According to The Sun, deals have been structured so that a quarter of the players' weekly wages are taken away if they miss out on qualification for European football's elite club competition.

That could mean that the United stars who missed out on a place in this year's competition have already seen their pay packets reduced, but it would not have affected the salaries of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba who joined in the summer.

It is claimed that world-record signing Pogba currently earns £290,000 a week at Old Trafford, while top scorer Ibrahimovic is on £220,000.

A United source is quoted by the publication as saying: "The squad has reductions built in to protect from a drop in revenue."

The Red Devils will also see their kit deal with adidas cut by 30% - roughly £22.5m - if they fail to qualify for the Champions League for a second season running.