MU lose more than £300m in transfer deals as squad value paints worrying picture

Manchester United have struggled for years to nail their transfer dealings and that has resulted in them massively overpaying for a squad that has struggled to deliver on their fees

Manchester United's continued failures in the transfer market is best summed up by research and data which shows that their squad is now worth more than £300million LESS than they actually paid for it.

Every club is looking for value in their recruitment. Getting a player for less than they're actually worth or signing one that goes on to blossom and is worth considerably more than they initially paid. For United, they've made a habit of doing the opposite.

Gary Neville previously declared Old Trafford a "graveyard" for players and managers and the figures back up that statement. United's squad cost vs their actual value presents the largest deficit in the Premier League.

They are £322.9m in the minus. They've spent £1.1billion but their squad is actually valued at £769m by Transfermarkt. For context, Arsenal are the best in the Premier League in this department. Their squad is worth £315.9m more than they actually paid - £826m vs £1.1bn. That owing to players like Martin Odegaard and William Saliba being worth considerably more than they were bought for.

Manchester City also rank high. Liverpool and Newcastle are also in the plus, which has aided their ambitions. For United though it is a sorry story and you don't have to look far for the lack of value in their transfers.

Actual cost against value often finds itself in the negative for two reasons. Firstly, a player was bought for big money late in their career, when their value was only going to decrease. Secondly, a player is bought but massively fails to live up to expectations.

An example of a player being landed when their value is on the decline is Casemiro. The Brazilian joined from Real Madrid for £70m - and whilst he enjoyed a positive debut season - the red flags were quickly highlighted with the 33-year-old still on big wages but not performing like he once did.

Meanwhile the list of players signed for big fees, only to underdeliver, is rife and has been for more than a decade. United have spent their entire summer trying to get some of their bigger names off their books having been unable to get the best from them.

Antony joined in the summer of 2022 for £81m. A year earlier and Jadon Sancho cost them £72m. Now United will do well to recoup even half those figures should they move on either player before the transfer window closes in less than a week.

Harry Maguire was the marquee signing in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first summer back in 2019, and whilst they have got six seasons out of the England defender, a man that cost them a world-record £80m is now valued at just £11m.

This summer has been far more measured. Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko have been signed for £206m. The former two are proven Premier League performers whilst Sesko is viewed as one of the best young strikers in Europe and, across his tenure in Manchester, should represent value for money.

It is a marked improvement from the first summer under Ineos 12 months ago, with a number of those transfer ageing poorly and costing the club dearly. Erik ten Hag was allowed to pursue certain targets but Joshua Zirkzee, signed for £36.5m, is now worth £25m. Manuel Ugarte is another player who represents a hefty loss, which is why United find themselves so heavily in the red.