Manchester United forecasts record profit next year

Manchester United fans wave flags before the English Premier League soccer match against Swansea City at Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, northern England May 12, 2013. REUTERS/Phil Noble

LONDON (Reuters) - English Premier League club Manchester United said it expected annual profit to jump by as much as 46 percent thanks to a return to Champions League football and a record kit deal, after reporting an expected fall in 2014-15 earnings.

The 20-times English champions, who have struggled for form since manager Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, said on Thursday they expected 2015-16 adjusted core earnings to be a record 165 to 175 million pounds on revenue of 500-510 million pounds.