Manchester United are one of the most - if not *the* most - popular football clubs on the planet.

It was revealed back in 2011 that United boasted an astonishing 659 million fans around the world - and that number has presumably increased since.

Five years earlier, in 2006, United’s global following was reportedly 333 million. But the club’s worldwide popularity continued to spike under the management of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Kantar, the market research company United used in 2011, claimed roughly half of the 659 million figure (325 million) lived in the Asia Pacific region, 173 million were based in the Middles East and Africa, 90 million in Europe, while 71 million came from the Americas.

With this in mind, it’s obviously vitally important for United to be a global brand because the vast majority of their fans are based outside of the UK.

And the Premier League giants could be about to make a lot of money from their huge Chinese fanbase after designing a new jersey which is set to be released in time for the Chinese New Year on January 25.

The leaked photos come courtesy of Footy Headlines - who often publish images of upcoming football kits - are rather, erm, different.

The V-neck shirt is red - the colour which symbolises good fortune and joy in China - and features an eye-catching dragon pattern, with the United badge just underneath the Adidas logo.

It certainly won’t be everybody’s cup of tea, that’s for sure, although United won’t care about negative comments on social media if their Chinese audience like it.

The Manchester Evening News understand that United won’t be wearing the unusual strip as an official kit, but add that Adidas are expected to sell it online.

Adidas have previously prepared Chinese New Year collection for various European clubs including Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Real Madrid, Footy Headlines add.

Tempted, United fans?