Erik ten Hag admits concern with Man Utd set to miss out on £100million-plus payday

Erik ten Hag has admitted that Manchester United will pay a heavy price if they don't qualify for the Champions League.

United will miss out on a bounty of up to £100million-plus if they fail to join Europe's elite next season.‌ And that would impact heavily on Ten Hag's summer spending plans with the Old Trafford club already walking an FFP tightrope.

‌"It’s very important to play Champions League, that is clear," said Ten Hag. "We don’t even have to discuss this. What exactly is the impact in this moment? I don’t know. You have more financial power when you achieve the Champions League and that is our target, absolutely."

‌United could not even afford to go into the loan market last month - despite the Dutchman urging them to recruit a striker. And Ten Hag's ability to strengthen his squad ahead of next season will be seriously impacted if there is no Champions League cash to bank.

‌A fifth Premier League team could qualify with the tournament being expanded to 36 teams from next season. That will depend on UEFA's coefficient rankings - and that means United's hopes could hinge on rivals Manchester City or Arsenal winning the Champions League, Liverpool, West Ham or Brighton lifting the Europa League or Villa taking the Europa Conference League.

‌United were eliminated from Europe in December when they finished bottom of their Champions League group. The Reds started the weekend in sixth place in the Premier League and face a trip to high-flying Aston Villa.

‌United were fined £256,000 last summer for failing to meet UEFA's FFP regulations. And the club's accountants were careful not to break the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules last month after seeing Everton docked 10 points.

‌Ten Hag now faces having to