City and Chelsea make the list, but there’s a surprise name among the biggest net spenders in the Premier League.
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5. Liverpool
Gross spend: £309m
Sold: £220m
Net: £98m
Per season: £17m
Liverpool’s record in the transfer market over the past five seasons is topsy-turvy to say the least, with duds like Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing and Charlie Adam more than made up for by gems like Luis Suarez, Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge. The Reds have clearly spent a fair whack but according to these stats, they have no right to be mounting such a convincing title challenge this season; credit to Brendan Rodgers.
4. Stoke City
Gross spend: £99m
Sold: 8m
Net: £91m
Per season: £18m
Plenty of eyebrows were raised when Tony Pulis left Stoke City this summer, with many believing the Welshman had done a tremendous job to continually keep the Potters in the Premier League. But these figures reveal that Pulis was actually spending a shedload of cash whilst the club stood still. His predecessor Mark Hughes was given much less than the average £18m to spend last summer but is doing a decent job.
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.
2. Chelsea
Gross spend: £436m
Sold: £154m
Net: £282m
Per season: £56m
Jose Mourinho keeps banging on about Financial Fair Play these days but Chelsea’s position in second place suggests the Portuguese’s spat with Manuel Pellegrini over transfer spend was both embarrassing and crass. Chelsea have splashed the cash on impressive stars like Eden Hazard and Willian in recent seasons but the club’s (and the Premier League’s) biggest ever transfer, Fernando Torres, has proved a flop at £50m.
1. Manchester City
Gross spend: £640m
Sold: £160m
Net: £479m
Per season: £95m
Way out in front is Sheikh Mansour’s Manchester City. The Eastlands club have spent nearly £100m per season on expensive superstars like Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho, but have also nabbed some relative bargains, with both David Silva and Yaya Toure (both £24m) costing less than Erik Lamela, Marouane Fellaini and Roberto Soldado.