MANCHESTER United's pre-tax profits have dropped by more than a third due to a lack of player sales.

But the club's finances are still the envy of its rivals. High media revenues lifted turnover in the six months to January 31 by 13 per cent to £92.6m.

Its operating profits rose by 32 per cent to £31.1m although pre-tax profits are down by 34 per cent to £20.3m because they sold fewer players than the previous year.

Those profits were boosted by £16.3m from selling stars such as Andy Cole.