Online Reporter
MANCHESTER UNITED are the Premier League’s worst spenders — and the club have absolutely nothing to show for it.
In fact, United’s horrendous recruitment decisions are one of the main reasons that the club—who sit 15th in the Prem—is going through their worst period since the 1973-74 relegation campaign.
To make matters worse, the Red Devils have spent FOUR TIMES more than Prem leaders Liverpool — who are currently seven points clear of Arsenal at the top of the table.
United’s hierarchy, both before and after Ineos came on board a year ago, have spent recklessly and without direction.
Put into numbers, United have spent, since 2019, a net amount of £810m — compared to Liverpool’s £212m.
But Arne Slot’s team sit a staggering 31 POINTS above Ruben Amorim’s side after the latter’s 1-0 defeat to Spurs on Sunday.
Old Trafford chiefs meanwhile can boast one Carabao Cup and one FA Cup, but a closer look will tell you those successes covered for some dire Prem campaigns – including a record low of eighth last season.
The once-feared Manchester outfit have actually spent more than £1 billion since 2019, with only £285m raised in departures.
That period has seen several different managers take the helm and includes some of the worst transfer business ever.
While Chelsea are the biggest Prem spenders, they are also the biggest Prem sellers, racking up £863m in player exits.
Some of these outgoings include £88m (Eden Hazard to Real Madrid), £65m (Havertz to Arsenal) and £60m (Mount to United).
So while, the Blues have spent 1.60bn, their net spend works out as £739m.
Tottenham’s record is the third ‘worst’, with a net spend of £576m as anger continues to be directed at chairman Daniel Levy.
That takes into consideration £884m spent on new signings and £308m in sales, but Spurs have gone trophy-less for 17 years.
Spurs’ rivals and title challengers Arsenal are fourth on the ‘worst spent’ list, with £563m in the red.
David Raya (£27m), Riccardo Calafiori (£42m), and Mikel Merino (£31m) were the major arrivals but Emile Smith Rowe (£27m), Aaron Ramsdale (£18m) and Eddie Nketiah (£25m) all departed.
Arsenal have not been afraid to spend big, splashing out £60m on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and £72m on Nicolas Pepe before the arrivals of £65m Kai Havertz and £105m Declan Rice.
Newcastle, West Ham and Newcastle make up fifth through to seventh respectively.
Seven-time champions Manchester City being down in ninth on the list would be a surprise to some.
In total, the Etihad giants are third for outlays on around £986m.
Omar Marmoush’s arrival is fourth in their all-time list, just behind Ruben Dias and then a way off Josko Gvardiol (£77m) and record-signing Jack Grealish who cost £100m.
Nottingham Forest even crept above City on the spending chart because their net spend is marginally higher.
Last summer, Forest went all out with their signings in an effort to ensure that they remained in the top-flight at the first time of asking, bringing in dozens of new players.
Lastly, Liverpool’s brilliantly astute and clever recruitment practices speak for themselves.
Perhaps it is no surprise to see Liverpool with the best net spend of the ‘Big Six’ on a mere £282m over the past nine seasons.
In fact, the Reds have actually made a profit in the 2024-25 campaign by only buying Federico Chiesa for £10m and raising £50m in sales from Fabio Carvalho (£20m), Sepp van den Berg (£20m) and Bobby Clark (£10m).
It continued a wise – and successful – transfer strategy that has seen Liverpool sell big and then wait to find the right players at the right time for the right price. —Sun.
