Manchester United Rise Above Barcelona in Latest Deloitte Football Rich List

Manchester United have risen above Bayern Munich and Barcelona to be named the world's second-richest football club behind European champions Real Madrid, according to Deloitte's Football Money League.

This has been achieved despite the Red Devils posting their worst Premier League season in history during the 2013-14 campaign under David Moyes.

Louis van Gaal has given supporters hope this year—United are one point clear of Arsenal in fourth—but the club's money men will undoubtedly be rubbing their hands together after revenue rose from £363.2 million to £433.2 million, per Mike Keegan of the MailOnline. Sky Sports provided a rundown of the front-runners:

United chief executive Ed Woodward has worked avidly to secure numerous sponsorship deals for the club in an attempt to make up for this season's lack of Champions League football. Keegan suggests that the Old Trafford side's "rise is down to its rapid commercial growth, and with more deals announced this year, they are expected to go from strength to strength despite the debt that remains from the 2005 Glazer takeover."

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Among the most notable deals are the sponsorship agreements with Chevrolet and Adidas. Some supporters may have bemoaned the former company's logo splashed on their shirts, but the contract brings in £47 million per season. Similarly, United are due to switch from Nike- to Adidas-manufactured kits next season, bringing in a record £75 million each year for the next decade.

Owen Gibson of The Guardian believes this particular deal "could enable them to overhaul Real as the highest earners in world football." He also highlights how Woodward's style is starting to alter other clubs: "The United model, minted by the chief executive, Ed Woodward, of selling regional sponsorships in a range of categories, is now being copied by other clubs but they have some way to go to catch up."

In December, it was reported the Glazer family are willing "to spend huge amounts" in order to mimic Madrid's "Galactico" style, per John Richardson of the Express, signing the best players at the most expensive prices to earn the most. The £59.7 million summer capture of Angel Di Maria was perhaps the first move in this process.

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Neighbours Manchester City are the sixth-richest club, with Chelsea and Arsenal currently standing at seventh and eighth respectively, per Keegan's report. Liverpool have toppled Juventus, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan to rise from 12th to ninth, with Newcastle United (19th) and Everton (20th) making it into the top 20 for the first time. Tottenham Hotspur also moved up one place to 13th.

As such, eight English sides in the 20 is a current high for any single nation. Dan Jones of Deloitte’s Sports Business Group provided an explanation, per Keegan:

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Last year Premier League clubs benefitted from much larger broadcast revenues thanks to the latest round of deals. The Premier League is currently undertaking its next round of sales of broadcast rights and with the market expectation that another significant increase will occur, it is likely that the Money League will have a strongly English appearance in the coming years.

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United fans will be hoping such revenue yields a plethora of new signings. Louis van Gaal recently suggested this won't happen in January, however, reported by Alex Shaw of ESPN FC:

It's likely the club will wait until the summer before making big-money moves, capitalising on the extra funds provided by Adidas. United's finances will receive another increase if they secure Champions League qualification and become a more prominent force on the continent once again.

The cash is there to spend on a squad that needs major improvement. Although Van Gaal began adding quality during the summer, United could use a handful of new defenders and midfield stars to maximise their potential.

Interest in the team is likely to rise if world-class players are lured, perhaps improving their financial standing even more in the near future.