3. Manchester United
Gross spend: £287m
Sold: £128m
Net: £138m
Per season: £27m
Considering their extraordinary success under Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United spent relatively frugally compared to their biggest rivals. It is a sign of the times that David Moyes took just two transfer windows to smash the club’s record transfer fee with a move for Juan Mata and the Scot will reportedly be given £150m to spend in the summer (if he stays in a job). That should see United’s net spend jump considerably, given they are unlikely to recoup a great deal for their current crop of underachievers.