• Premier League

United planning lucrative friendlies in European absence

ESPN staff
March 1, 2014
David Moyes' side are 11 points off a Champions League spot © PA Photos
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Manchester United are reportedly weighing up the offer of playing lucrative friendlies next season if they fail to qualify for the Champions League or Europa League.

David Moyes' side are currently 11 points off one of the Champions League spots with 11 games remaining as they sit sixth in the table.

There is a possibility they could also miss out on the Europa League, and United are reportedly considering to play matches abroad to compensate the financial loss were they to not qualify for European competition.

The figure for missing out on European football could be around £25 million, and given that United turned down an offer to play a friendly when they went for their warm-weather break to Dubai, club officials are believed to be contemplating the possibility of taking part in big-money friendlies.

With overseas friendlies being touted, teams from the Middle East, America and China are most likely to be United's opponents were they to decide to rectify a potential European failure.

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