Research from a football finance expert has found that Manchester United significantly overspent on players compared with their market value in recent windows.
The analysis from football transfer finances expert and university lecturer Moussa Ezzeddine, who has analysed transfer values going back more than a decade and runs football finance consultancy Melon Coin, says United paid way over the expected value for some of their big recent signings.
Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, for instance, who joined the club last season for around £70m, should have cost just over £33m according to Ezzeddine’s analysis, given his age and wage expectations when signing from Real Madrid.
Likewise, winger Antony, who cost around £85m, was worth less than half that at just under £43m with outcast Jadon Sancho worth £49m, significantly lower than the £85m fee United paid.
Embed from Getty ImagesOnly Raphael Varane saw good value on the deal, according to Ezzeddine’s analysis, with United’s £40m fee just over the £36,817,996 the data values him at.
“It’s clear that their attempts to compete at the highest level have seen Manchester United overspend significantly,” Ezzeddine said.
“Not only have they overpaid for signings, but they have paid top salaries, making it even more difficult to move players on that they now no longer want to retain.
“It’s going to be a buyers market which may be hampered by the cost-cutting United now look set to implement.”
| Player | Reported Fee | Value |
| Mason Mount | 64,200,000 | 40,825,500 |
| Rasmus Hojlund | 73,900,000 | 28,500,000 |
| Andre Onana | 50,200,000 | 23,100,000 |
| Lisandro Martinez | 57,370,000 | 27,000,000 |
| Casemiro | 70,650,000 | 33,300,000 |
| Antony | 85,000,000 | 42,281,808 |
| Jadon Sancho | 85,000,000 | 49,000,000 |
| Raphael Varane | 40,000,000 | 36,817,996 |
