Man Utd could miss out on the Champions League next season even if they finish in the top four, here's how

Manchester United could miss out on the Champions League next season even if they finish in the top four, it has been claimed.

The Old Trafford club have been much improved under Erik ten Hag this term.

United claimed the Carabao Cup earlier this term, their first major trophy in some seven years, while they remain in the latter stages of both the FA Cup and Europa League.

Meanwhile, the club are sitting in third in the Premier League, though only three points clear of Newcastle United in fifth place.

However, even if Ten Hag’s men were to cement their place in the top four, they could still miss out on Champions League football next term. Here’s how...

Man Utd to miss out on Champions League?

United owners, the Glazer family are currently exploring “strategic alternatives” for the Premier League giants, with both Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim having placed revised bids to buy the club last week.

And as per ESPN, should British billionaire Ratcliffe win the race to purchase the Old Trafford club, he could be forced to sell his stake in French club Nice to avoid either team being excluded from the Champions League.

Indeed, while UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin claimed last week that European football's governing body was prepared to relax regulations on multi-club ownership, Ratcliffe would contravene existing rules if both United and Nice qualified for the same UEFA competition under his ownership.

Article 5 of UEFA regulations forbids two teams controlled by the same person or group from competing in the same competition.

In turn, unless Ratcliffe sells his stake in Nice, either the french side of United would fall foul of Article 5.02 of UEFA regulations.

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If both teams were to finish in a Champions League qualification spot in their respective leagues the club finishing higher would take the place in the competition.

For example, if United were to finish fourth in the Premier League and Nice were to finish third in Ligue 1, the latter side would be awarded a Champions League place.

Such a problem is unlikely to occur this term, however, with Nice currently in seventh place in Ligue 1, some 13 points adrift of a Champions League spot.