Manchester United says set to meet financial goals

Britain Soccer Football - Leicester City v Manchester United - Premier League - King Power Stadium - 5/2/17 Manchester United's Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates scoring their second goal with Henrikh Mkhitaryan Reuters / Darren Staples Livepic

(Reuters) - English soccer club Manchester United is on course to meet its financial targets for 2016-17, it said on Thursday, citing commercial strength that helps to shield it from ups and downs on the pitch.

Net debt, which has been a concern among United fans, was up 27 percent at 409 million pounds at the end of December because of the U.S. dollar's strength against the pound over the year. The underlying debt was unchanged in dollar terms, the club said.