Manchester United top Deloitte Football Money League with quartet of London sides in top 20

Manchester United have retained the position as the highest earning side in world football, according to Deloitte’s annual football Money League report.

The Red Devils pipped Real Madrid to top spot by just £1.5million, earning £581.2million to the Spanish giants’ £579.7m, topping the accountancy firm’s football rich list for the 10th time in 21 years.

Dan Jones, partner in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, said: “United’s ability to retain first position is all the more impressive against the backdrop of the weakened pound against the euro.

“With both Real Madrid and FC Barcelona forecasting further revenue growth in 2017/18, the battle at the top will likely come down to on-pitch performance again next year.”

Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City round out the top five, with Arsenal leapfrogging Paris Saint-Germain to sixth.

​Deloitte’s latest report also reveals the financial muscle of London. There are more clubs from the capital in the top 20 (four) than representatives from either the Bundesliga or Serie A, both of whom have three representatives.

Chelsea remain eighth in the rankings, Tottenham have leapfrogged Borussia Dortmund into 12th and West Ham have moved up one place to 17th.

Meanwhile Crystal Palace rank 26th in the Money League, only two places behind Roma and four above Benfica, with revenue of £140.9m.

In total half of the top 20 is from the Premier League, including new entrants Southampton.

Deloitte Sports Business Group senior manager Tim Bridge said the "Money League has a particularly English feel this year", with an £8.3billion broadcast deal helping propel even mid-ranking Premier League sides above the likes of AC Milan.

The top 20 in full