Manchester United may not have won the Premier League title since Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2013 but that has not stopped the Red Devils from investing like kings in their players.
The CIES Football Observatory has been releasing data regarding the net spend from clubs across Europe’s top five leagues over the past decade.
United’s expenditure is that expected from champions, however, with a phenomenal €1,075 million (around £905million) net spend over a 10-year period. Plus, United hold four of the top spots for big-money transfers.
Transfermarkt reports that Paul Pogba (€105m), Harry Maguire (€94m), Jadon Sancho (€91m) and Lukaku (€89) occupy the third, fourth, fifth and sixth place on the list of highest Premier League transfer spends.
When this is compared to rivals, Manchester City, the Sky Blues have a net spend of €984m but this spending has helped them to win four Premier League titles, six League Cups and the FA Cup in a period where United have had limited success on the pitch.
For nearly 10 years, United have been struggling to claw their way to Premier League glory and have yet to find a manager who will last longer than three years. Since Ferguson’s departure, United have won just two Community Shields, one FA Cup, one UEFA Europa League and one League Cup.
While City have often been known as the big spenders of the Premier League, the recently reported data shows that City also have made plenty of money by selling their players without noticeably weakening their side.
In an upsetting reversal of fortune for United fans, it is they who take the top spot for the highest net-spending in the last 10 years.