LONDON (AFP) - English football giants Manchester United have announced that they will return to the United States for a pre-season tour ahead of the 2014-15 campaign in Europe.

Full details are set to be released in the next few weeks, but the Premier League champions said on Tuesday that they would visit "a number of destinations in the country" during their trip.

This is set to be United's fifth pre-season tour of the US, long considered one of the great undeveloped markets for football, with the most recent in 2011 when the club played four American teams and Spanish side Barcelona across three cities.

However, plans for the tour may be altered if United have to take part in the early qualifying stages of the Europa League in August.

Now managed by David Moyes following the retirement of serial trophy-winner Alex Ferguson, United are seventh in the table - seven points adrift of the Champions League places.

There have been reports United will take part in an International Champions Cup tournament in North America along with seven other major teams.

United managing director Richard Arnold, welcomed the tour. "I'm delighted to announce that the team will be returning to the USA for our 2014 Tour, presented by Aon," he said.

"Since the club's last visit in 2011, the appeal of football in America has grown rapidly. NBC reported that this season's Barclays Premier League opening weekend saw the average viewership rise by 78 per cent from the 2012-13 season, with Manchester United's match against Swansea being the most-watched game.

"Manchester United has over eight million followers in the United States and the 2014 Tour presents an exciting opportunity for these fans to get up close to the club they love."