Manchester United earned a table-topping £90million in prize money and TV cash from all competitions in 2008/09, reports the Manchester Evening News. The figures reveal the Champions League is now worth around double the amount to the top four clubs than it was three years ago.
Nevertheless, the figures may increase pressure in some quarters for the Premier League members to look once again at how their income is distributed among the 20 clubs.
Despite a recent change to the distribution, the number of times a club's Premier League matches are screened live still has a significant impact on earnings.
THE MONEY LEAGUE TABLE
Earnings, in millions of pounds, by Premier League clubs in 2008/09 season (not including gate receipts or merchandise income) calculated by the Press Association.
Man Utd £90.0m
Liverpool £72.3m
Chelsea £81.2m
Arsenal £73.4m
Everton £49.5m
Aston Villa £46.4m
Fulham £41.6m
Tottenham £44.4m
West Ham £42.0m
Man City £44.6m
Wigan £38.1m
Stoke £37.0m
Bolton £36.2m
Portsmouth £35.8m
Blackburn £35.5m
Sunderland £34.0m
Hull £34.4m
Newcastle £37.2m
Middlesbrogh £32.8m
West Brom £31.9m
Premier League earnings: prize money (max £15.2m, min £761,000); TV cash (£13.9m per club plus £480,000 per televised match - minimum payment 10 matches); overseas TV, sponsorship and licensing money (£12m per club).
European: Champions League earnings (TV money and performance bonuses); UEFA Cup (TV money and performance bonuses).
FA Cup: prize money (£75,000 for third round win rising to £2million for final win); TV money (£160,000 to £275,000 per live match). Carling Cup: £100,000 per live televised match.
