Chelsea buying another title? Transfer data dispels theory as Arsenal, Man Utd, LFC & even Leicester have higher net spends

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BY KEVIN PEACOCK – follow him on Twitter @techlec2000

Football fans like to point out that Chelsea FC are a club that would not have been able to achieve their tremendous recent success without the vast sums of cash made available to them by Roman Abramovich.

But let’s look at the transfer activity of the top six clubs in the Premier League over the last three seasons and get some perspective.

The top spenders are, unsurprisingly, Manchester City. Between 2014 and the current campaign City have spent £436 million and have recouped £113 million in their transfer dealings. This gives them a net spend over the same period of £323 million.

Next on the list are the other Manchester team, United, whose net spend over three seasons is £279 million.

The third biggest spenders’ in terms of income vs expenditure is quite surprising. It’s the ‘well run, frivolous’ Arsenal FC, the team who ‘won’t’ spend money.

Arsenal have spent £222 million in three seasons and their transfer dealings have bought in just £95 million. Net spend £127 million and still no sign of Chelsea FC…

Back to the north-west for number four on the list and Liverpool FC. Their net spend runs out at £70 million. The only team to have a better spending ratio than Chelsea are London rivals Tottenham Hotspur who nearly broke even with a net spend of just £14 million.

Chelsea have been big spenders in transfer terms, spending £307 million. Where Chelsea and the directors have been very smart is with the amount of money brought back into the club through shrewd dealings.

Some of the sales have not always been popular with the fans, seeing favourites such as Juan Mata, Andre Schurlle, Petr Cech and the prodigal son David Luiz leave the football club. The money bought in from such sales should be respected though and has not come from the bulging wallet of Mr. Abramovich.

Chelsea’s transfer income since the beginning of the 2014-2015 season stands at £291 million pounds, giving the club a net spend of just £16 million.

Ultimately success always costs money, no matter what fans say. Constant success breeds jealousy and jealousy breeds contempt.

Given the choice of a wealthy benefactor or mid-table mediocrity I know what fans of all clubs would choose.

Historically teams that have won the Premier League will have bought success in one way or another. The ‘exception’ to that rule being Leicester City last season. Or are they? Net spend for them over the same three seasons, £76 million – more than Spurs, Liverpool, and Chelsea!

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