Manchester United’s wage bill has increased by more than 10 per cent, despite the club’s poor start to the season.
Figures released on Thursday for the first quarter of 2018 show that ‘employee benefit expenses’ for the three-month period were £77million, an increase of £7.1 million, or 10.2 per cent, over last year - which they say is ‘primarily due to investment in the first team playing squad’.
It means Jose Mourinho’s men are set to earn around £308m this season, which gives them by far the biggest wage bill in the Premier League.
United currently lie in a lowly 8th place in the Premier League, 12 points behind leaders and rivals City, to whom they lost 3-1 on Sunday.
Mourinho has made his feelings on what he perceives to be a lack of investment known. However, the figures appear to tell a different story. City’s wage bill for 2017-18 stood at around £260m.
The figures also show that, despite a quarterly drop in commercial and sponsorship money, United continue to expect annual revenue to be between £615m to £630m, which would represent a new record.
It is thought that the losses in matchday, commercial and sponsorship revenue are down to a shorter summer tour and fewer number of home matches being played compared with the same reporting period last year.
United’s gross debt, a leftover from the 2005 Glazer takeover, remains the same while operating profit was down on the same period last year, falling from £17.9m to £13.9m (22.3 per cent).
Ed Woodward, United’s executive vice chairman, said: ‘Our financial strength enables us to continue to attract and retain top players and to invest in our academy, as we look to drive the success on the pitch that the club and our fans expect.
'We remain on track to deliver our record full-year revenue guidance, underpinning our long-term, strategic plan to create sustainable growth across all areas of the club.’
SakshatRao
219
But Man Utd fans will anyways complain about City spending money... That's the difference! City spend money but get the results. Utd spend money too and they don't get the expected results; but they are more concerned about City spending so much money... What results have Man Utd got from spending that much on Pogba, Fred, Sanchez and Lukaku apart from Europa League? They've got a good but moaning manager and a pathetic transfer policy, the results of which you can see when Sanchez earns huge salaries and sits on the bench... On the other hand, teams like Liverpool and Man City have spent a lot and are getting the results too. City are on a rampage and they are slowly filling their trophy cabinet. Liverpool are (like always) not winning anything but their style of play is appreciated and they reached the UCL final, which is 100 times better than winning the Europa League where the other finalist was Ajax... So try to improve your own condition before pointing fingers towards others policies...
Naijatwist
200
the club need a reshuffle from the owner down to the board and the team
SINGAM23
177
Man Utd face huge wage hike with £308m salary bill highest in Premier League... !!! Wonder why names like Pogba, Sanchez etc. getting slower and lazier by time
Kennish
163
Everything should be changed in United. Their mentality , way of playing , their attitude etc. I hope to see them again as one of the best in Europe
Braddy
143
The burden of money isn't on the fans. The Man United board should do what it takes to restore consistency by offloading and bringing in World Class players. Why having players like Sanchez who are just growing their pockets everyday but damaging our gameplay
United Kingdom6877317
121
Well well well tut tut am a city fan through throughout seen the bad days when we were in lower leagues seen man united gloating at us for years when we had nothing I would like to thank our owners for putting the foundations into our club and getting us in pole position were we belong I thought last year was amazing but we are stronger than last year and pep we belive in for years to come champions now man united 308 million wage bill for players not playing for the jersey all about money with most then from what I see Ed you pay Sanchez 500 k a week wake up plus others who short change you then make a stament saying let’s buy January again away yous go keep spending enjoy the chase we will mourhino his attude well that’s another thing chase us like last weekend mcfc
muackrtz
93
why man utd can't improve because of couch or some other managers they can't to give out the money for a team to improve pliz do ur best because u will make us fans to get collapse[Cry]
SakshatRao
12
Your comment was good until that Ajax Final thing Really reaching UCL final and only to lose is better than winning a European Trophy?
Again, I don't mean from the perspective of a fan. Losing any match is devastating for a fan, let go the UCL final... But the point is that the fact that Liverpool reached the UCL final indicates that they're arguably the second best team in Europe! Winning the Europa League is a great achievement, but you must remember that the competition in Europa League is much lesser than that in the UCL. So in a way, when you've won the Europa League, it means you are better than the all teams in Europe apart from the teams in the UCL. If Man Utd really want to justify their spendings and high wages, they'll have to do that in the UCL. Similarly, even PSG, Man City, Liverpool, Barca and Juventus need to justify their spendings in the UCL...
SakshatRao
12
For the board it's good for them because after they spend that money they are on track to get a record revenue. that's what the article said so don't compare our spending to city. moreover we supporters don't think it's the right way to run the club.
Financially, United may be able to handle the wages through other kind of earnings like sponsorships. In fact even PSG may escape the FFP violations thanks to sponsorship money. But I'm talking from the perspective of a supporter. What use is it to earn profits if the team is not delivering on the field? Even if Man Utd don't win anything this season, they still might be able to cover the expenses because it's one of the most famous clubs in the world. But if the club doesn't perform on the field, it'll soon be forgotten, just like how Milan and Red Star Belgrade have been forgotten today...
shariffeyyulegunshot
9
Mourinho is like this after the game inside the dressing room[ghostlove][ghostlove][ghostlove]