Manchester United are expected to announce a massive increase in turnover to £245 million sterling (€328 million) later this week.
The Red Devils have cashed in on an outstanding season, during which they
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| Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo |
won the Premier League title, lost to AC Milan in the Champions League semi-finals and were beaten by Chelsea in the FA Cup final.
Irritated by Arsenal's claim to be the richest club in England when they reported turnover of £201 million in September, United have factored in revenue from the long-term contract with shirt manufacturers Nike, which has never previously been included.
It leaves United as unquestioned number one in England, slightly behind only Real Madrid in the global arena.
Confirmation of the £245 million figure for overall business will come from Old Trafford overnight on Thursday, with the club reporting turnover in excess of £200 million for its core football activities.
It is also expected United will continue to buck the Premier League trend of not disclosing agents' fees by releasing the overall figure it has spent on agents.
The figures are expected to confirm the highest profit figure ever recorded by an English club, which may go some way to easing the widespread concerns of many fans over the debt incurred during Malcolm Glazer's controversial takeover in 2005.
It has also allowed the club to reduce its wages-turnover ratio to 43.6 per cent, well within the 50 per cent limit set by the Glazer family as a long-term aim.