Manchester United have wasted more money on transfers in the Premier League than any other club over the past three seasons, according to a new study.
According to the latest Soccerex Transfer Review, United top the list with a whopping £117million spent on failed players, with Argentine winger Angel Di Maria and Belgian giant Marouane Fellaini labelled the biggest flops, costing £54.5million and £24million respectively.
Manchester City fared somewhat better than their local rivals, squandering £53million on players – a total which still seems them sitting in third in the list, with Tottenham separating the Manchester giants.
The two clubs led the way in transfer expenditure worldwide this summer, with City pipping the Old Trafford residents to first place after splurging £158million on players, including £52million man Kevin de Bruyne.
The fair-haired Belgian playmaker also signals City’s first foray onto the top ten most expensive transfers of all-time list – his fee was the fifth highest ever, with United’s 2014 signing of Di Maria the only other on the list not paid by either Real Madrid or Barcelona.
The riches of the English football pyramid were further highlighted by the fact that spending by Championship clubs reached £100million – four times the outlay of their nearest equivalent, the Bundesliga B, whose clubs spent just £25million.
Clubs in Spain’s Liga Adelante and France’s Ligue 2 spent just £4.3million between them.
Parachute payments and TV deals encouraged signings such as the £6million signing of Andre Gray by Burnley, although that figure should be recouped when the club receive compensation from Liverpool for their signing of Danny Ings.
All figures approximate due to exchange rate variations.
Image courtesy of Sky Sports, via Youtube, with thanks.
