Man United tops list of most expensive squads in EPL

Man United tops list of most expensive squad Manchester United have the most expensive squad ever assembled in the Premier League after Argentina winger Angel Di Maria’s arrival pushed their combined value over the £400m mark. The Red Devils are currently the Premier League’s most expensive squad ever assembled in the English game.

The arrival of Angel Di Maria this week takes the combined transfer fees of the United squad to an eye-watering £401.2million – and that figure could grow with new signings before the transfer window closes.

Di Maria’s move from Real Madrid for approximately £60m has seen United overtake rivals Manchester City, whose squad was built for a combined £344.15m. United have also signed Luke Shaw, Ander Herrera and Marcos Rojo to boost the strength of the squad.

London side, Chelsea squad put together for £341.8m, Liverpool £245.8m and Arsenal £209.5m

The value of United’s squad now overtakes their neighbours and defending Premier League champions Manchester City, who are worth a collective £344.15m when the transfer fees are added up.

Chelsea is third with a worth valued at £341.8m following the signing of Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa from Barcelona and Athletico Madrid over the summer.

City’s title-winning squad from last season cost £364.7m to put together, while their successful team from the 2011-2012 season was worth £334.5m.

United have so far spent a whooping £131.7m on four players – Di Maria, Ander Herrera, Luke Shaw and Marcos Rojo – as Louis van Gaal desperately tries to strengthen a squad that slumped to seventh in the table last season and is yet to get back to winning ways.

But these big money signings are merely an escalation of United’s exponential buying over the last decade with 17 members of the squad costing in excess of £10m when they arrived at the club.

Chris Smalling, for instance, cost £10m when signed from Fulham in 2010; Phil Jones cost £16.5m when he arrived from Blackburn in 2011; and Wilfried Zaha cost £15m. The much-maligned Anderson was £27m, Antonio Valencia £16m and Ashley Young £17m.

The result is by far the most expensively-assembled squad in the Premier League. And the numbers could increase further if United succeed to land £30m-rated Arturo Vidal from Italian Seria A giant Juventus and other last-minute buys.

United have made Vidal their prime target after securing the Di Maria and are involved in negotiations with the Italian champions.

They are also interested in the Ajax defender Daley Blind, who is well known to Van Gaal, the former Holland coach.

United’s total transfer fees far outstrip those of title contenders Liverpool, whose squad was put together for £245.8m, and Arsenal, worth a combined £209.5m.

As transfer fees grow ever more extortionate, the price of assembling a title-winning squad will grow higher and higher.

Already, United have smashed the £400m mark. It surely won’t be long before the half-a-billion point is reached.

United have also spent almost £200m since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, but their win rate has dropped by 17 percent.

When Ferguson left Manchester United after 27 years at the helm, he taught he had left the club in good hands.

David Moyes was his personally selected predecessor, and though that didn’t work out, he was sure to have approved Louis van Gaal’s appointment given his track record.

But after a less-than-ideal start for the Dutch boss in charge, despite huge transfer fees being shelled out by United, it’s time to look at the damning numbers.

We all know about Ferguson’s record when it comes to trophies, while his win percentage was also mightily impressive at 67 percent in 2012/13.

But after his departure, that rate has dropped down to 50 percent with just 29 wins from Moyes (Van Gaal doesn’t have one yet), from 58 games.

And it’s not like United haven’t been backed in the transfer market. Chief executive Ed Woodward, who replaced David Gill at the same time as Fergie’s departure, has admitted it has been tough to attract big names but has still managed to pay out way beyond what Ferguson was spending per season. In fact, United have spent £199.1m post-Ferguson.

Gustavo Varela (£1.5m), Marouane Fellaini (£27.5m), Juan Mata (£37.1m), Luke Shaw (£30m), Ander Herrera (£29m), Marcos Rojo (£16m) and Angel di Maria (£60m) have all arrived, but there is still a lack of identity in this line-up.

BusinessDay