Manchester United three wins from vital £147m boost that will offer Sir Jim Ratcliffe lifeline

Manchester United are set for a healthy cash gain from the Premier League if they can secure European qualification.

Erik ten Hag's side are sixth in the table after Saturday's 1-1 draw with Burnley at Old Trafford. United had taken the lead through Antony late in the second half and were on course for just a second Premier League win in their six last outings before Zeki Amdouni equalised from the penalty spot for the relegation-threatened Clarets.

Saturday's stalemate all but killed United's hopes of catching Tottenham Hotspur in fifth place, who are six points ahead of the Reds and, vitally, boast a game in hand. Should Spurs hold on to their position, they will automatically qualify for next season's Europa League.

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United, meanwhile, are embroiled in a battle with Newcastle United for the Premier League's final European qualification spot - entry to the UEFA Conference League - and should they be successful, will receive a nine-figure payment for their efforts.

Next season, the Premier League will have seven representatives in UEFA competitions: four in the Champions League, two in the Europa League [FA Cup winners] and one in the Conference League.

United will qualify for next season's Europa League if they defeat Manchester City in next month's FA Cup final. However, should City defeat the Reds in a second consecutive final, then the sixth-placed Premier League will gain entry into the Europa League. That, as it stands, is also set to be Ten Hag's side.

Indeed, should United finish sixth in the Premier League - a drop of three places from their 2022/23 position - the Reds would be on course for a series of payments equating to roughly £147m from the Premier League.

That's because at the end of each season, every Premier League club is awarded a merit payment. Last season, each position in the league was worth £3.1m, with Southampton, who finished rock-bottom, earning £3.1m while table-toppers Manchester City took home a staggering £62.3m. A sixth-place finish would see United earn £46.7m

In addition to a merit payment, clubs are also entitled to a share of the Premier League's riches based on how many times their games have been shown on television throughout the season. This is called a facility fee. And on top of those two variable payments, all clubs earn a yearly share of £79m from the Premier League's current £5.1bn TV deal.

Therefore, based on an expected facility fee of roughly £25m, if United can secure a sixth-placed finish in the Premier League they would pocket a total of roughly £147m from this season's campaign.

That would be quite the boost for Sir Jim Ratcliffe ahead of his first summer transfer window at Old Trafford.