Man United 'contract rule change' as Marcus Rashford set to receive extra £4m

Marcus Rashford is in line to get a financial boost from a Champions League contract clause, which has forced Manchester United to act

Manchester United stars must play at least 60 per cent of the minutes from the previous season in order to see a Champions League bonus in their contracts activated. A few years ago, just qualifying for Europe's top-club competition would have seen a pay-out awarded, which is why Marcus Rashford is set to pocket an extra £4million annually than he would have done had United failed to finish in the top four despite playing zero minutes.

No Champions League football last season resulted in a pay cut for all players. However, those wages have increased again for some after United finished third in the Premier League.

Rashford's expected increase has been widely known for some time, with the England international banking a 25 per cent top-up on his already hefty wages despite not featuring for the Reds last season. That has taken him back up to earning over £300,000-a-week, with the 25 per cent pay rise equating to roughly £4m.

Mason Mount, who joined in the same period as Rashford signed a new deal, also has the clause and will subsequently cost United an extra £1m-plus in wages over the next season.

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Andre Onana also arrived that summer, and though his wages are being covered by loan club Trabzonspor, which has seen United avoid forking out even more, he has benefitted from the clause.

Rashford and co's wages were hiked back up because their terms were signed under the old system before the contract rule change was brought in. According to The Telegraph, players now have to be on the pitch for over 60 per cent of the previous season, which equates to just over 2,000 minutes, to be able to bank a pay rise for Champions League qualification.

Mount only just about managed half that while Rashford spent the season elsewhere, and thus neither would be eligible for a seven-figure windfall under the new regime. Joshua Zirkzee did not meet the threshold last season, so his wages remained the same as he was signed before the new rule came into effect.

Both Rashford and Onana have been made available for a permanent departure, yet United have encountered difficulties offloading either player, largely owing to their wages and the bonus clauses within their contracts.

Despite impressing during his stint at Barcelona, who ultimately chose not to sign him permanently for financial reasons, this is likely why United were so desperate to move Rashford on. A considerable U-turn has since been made on that position, however, with it now appearing increasingly probable that he will remain at Old Trafford.

United's summer plans, meanwhile, are being hampered, with moves for key targets considered too costly.

The club managed to negotiate shrewd deals for Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos but fell short in their pursuit of Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes. United may now not have the funds to sign a third midfielder and are instead being linked with a new left back and centre-forward.

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