Man United have already fallen £495m behind Premier League rivals, Champions League qualification is vital

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Michael Carrick’s top priority between now and the end of the season will be securing Champions League football for Manchester United.

It is still up in the air if Michael Carrick will be appointed permanently or not in the summer, but his best chance of landing the job will come if he achieves a top-five finish.

Manchester United sporting director Jason Wilcox is targeting Champions League qualification after the Red Devils have gone two years without playing in Europe’s most prestigious competition.

How many points will Man Utd get from the next five games? Let’s hear your predictions/hopes…

Michael Carrick took 13 points from his first five…

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Champions League football is worth over £100m to United, and it will also help to attract world-class players in the summer transfer market.

The long-term goal at Old Trafford is to put United back on the throne of English football. Without European football, the Red Devils have been falling further and further behind their rivals.

Premier League clubs have earned £495m Uefa prize money

United’s revenue has taken a huge hit because of the failure to qualify for the Champions League. Back-to-back seasons out of the competition triggered a clause that lowered the payment of the world-record Adidas deal.

Not only are United earning less sponsorship money, but the prize money in the Champions League is significant and other Premier League clubs are busy building an advantage over the Red Devils.

As pointed out by Football Meets Data, English clubs in Uefa competitions have already earned €566 million this season (£495m).

Man United’s rivals are overtaking them in the financial stakes

What does Sir Jim need to do to fix this MESS?

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That figure will only grow as the competitions progress, with all six English clubs in the Champions League set to progress to the knockout stages of the competition.

United are falling behind their rivals financially and are losing their grip as the financial powerhouse of England.

Man United’s 12-game Champions League push

There are 12 games remaining this season for United, and the Red Devils currently find themselves fifth in the Premier League table after results over the weekend.

Carrick’s side are back in action on Monday evening against Everton, and a win on Merseyside would put United back in fourth and in a great position for Champions League qualification.

READ MORE: Man Utd’s £324m transfer debt means Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund sales will not fund Elliot Anderson

It has been confirmed that a top-five finish will earn Champions League football because of England’s coefficient points, so that is the official aim for Carrick and his players this season.

With no FA Cup, Carabao Cup or European distractions, all focus is on the Premier League. Failure to finish in the top five would be disastrous from a financial standpoint, and it would also lead into a very underwhelming transfer window.