The likes of Bruno Fernandes could be earning as much as £290,000 a week if Manchester United finish in the top four this season.
On Thursday, the Red Devils moved a point closer to Champions League football, but in reality missed a great chance to put clear daylight between themselves and the chasing pack after blowing a 2-0 lead at Spurs. Goals from Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford had put Erik ten Hag's men in control at half time, only for Pedro Porro and Son Heung-Min to ensure a 2-2 draw for the hosts.
Despite Ten hag lambasting his players for ignoring 'obvious' instructions afterwards, United remain in a strong position to return to Europe's top table though, six points clear of Harry Kane and co with two games in hand. And the players have extra incentive for staying in the top four over their seven remaining games.
According to the Daily Mail, the playing squad will bag wage increases of up to 20 percent just for qualifying for the tournament. Those subjected to wage cuts last summer will also be bumped back up, due to the huge revenue increase that the competition will bring to the club.
Unfortunately for David de Gea, his deal is up at the end of this season. The United No 1 is currently on a massive £375,000 per week, and will need to negotiate the same terms on a contract extension to see that figure become an extortionate £450,000.
Another figure whose future is up in the air is Harry Maguire, who despite struggling for a first team place this season is still taking home £190,000 a week. That will rise to £228,000 if the current club captain remains at Old Trafford.
The financial incentives for players, coupled with the notion that United are set to make an £80 million bid for Harry Kane this summer, makes the ongoing takeover saga at the club even more pivotal. Prospective buyers have until 10pm on Friday night to submit their final bids.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has spiced things up this week by proposing a bid which would see two members of the controversial Glazer family, Avram and Joel, remain at the club as stakeholders. Qatari Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani though, wants 100% control of the club.
For ten Hag and co though, the immediate focus will be a top four finish and adding another trophy to the League Cup already won in this campaign. United face Man City on June 3 in the FA Cup final, a game which could yet scupper the treble hopes of their rivals.
