Manchester United officials have shown that they are not afraid to spend money in recent years, so long as Erik ten Hag can deliver success. The Red Devils have essentially opted to overhaul their roster since the end of the 2021/22 season. The summer of 2022 was a major moment in the club’s recent history. Paul Pogba, Juan Mata, Nemanja Matic, Edinson Cavani and Jesse Lingard all left as free agents at that time.
United also chose to sell James Garner, Andreas Pereira, and Tahith Chong that summer as well. As a result of this mass exodus, the club had to start revamping the roster. Not only were new additions needed, but team brass also made a managerial change. Erik ten Hag arrived in Manchester from Ajax in May of 2022.
With the new boss at the helm, United began splashing more cash on new players. Since ten Hag arrived, the Red Devils have introduced 18 additions to the roster. A dozen of the players have, so far, arrived on permanent contracts. Despite this overhaul, ten Hag’s time with the team has been filled with ebbs and flows.
On one hand, the Dutchman has collected two trophies in the last two seasons. Both of these triumphs came in domestic knockout tournaments. However, the Red Devils have also fallen behind other rivals in the Premier League and were easily swept aside in the lucrative Champions League.
Despite these setbacks, United officials, led by new minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chose to reward Ten Hag with a new contract. The move certainly surprised many around the soccer world. With a new deal in place, the Dutchman now needs to take the club to the next step: competing for a Premier League title.
Since Ten Hag entered the fray, United has (so far) spent a total of $600 million on new players. This figure includes recent deals for Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro. Nevertheless, team officials are also reportedly close to potentially securing additional massive moves for PSG midfielder Manuel Ugarte and Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt.
United has attempted to help offset this spending by selling players as well. However, the club’s net spend of $462 million since 2022 is still higher than almost all of its competitors. Only free spending Chelsea has recorded a higher net spend among England’s ‘Big Six’ in the timeframe. The Blues have racked up a net spend of just under $800 million since the summer of 2022.
For reference, both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur currently have a net spend of under $400 million during this timeframe. Like United, both of these clubs have also opted to overhaul their rosters as well.
Liverpool and Manchester City have had a fairly set squad in recent years and have not had to make significant changes to their teams. This is evident by the duo’s relatively minor net spend in recent seasons. The reigning English champions, despite spending a ton over the last decade or so, have a net spend of $125 million since the summer of 2022. The Reds have also recorded a figure of $188 million during this stretch.
Although Ten Hag has received a new contract, United officials may still have a relatively short leash on their coach. Pressure is typically immense for most Premier League managers, especially those at top teams. With how the Red Devils have spent in recent seasons, the Dutchman certainly has to fight for an English top-flight title soon.
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