Manchester United’s wage bill has come into huge question over recent seasons, with their spending on players being way above their league standing from 2024/25.
The Red Devils had the second-highest wage bill in the Premier League last season, spending a staggering £180m on wages alone - with only rivals Manchester City spending more.
Ruben Amorim has been tasked with the challenge of reducing such a figure during the summer - something which he managed to partly achieve on deadline day.
Ruben-Amorim-Man-Utd
The club agreed to send Jadon Sancho on loan to Aston Villa for the entirety of the 2025/26 season - with Unai Emery’s side agreeing to pay 80% of the winger’s £250k-per-week pay packet.
However, the hierarchy would’ve likely spent some of those funds saved had they agreed a deal for one of the numerous targets who were on their radar during the summer transfer window.
United’s move to land Wharton & Baleba this summer
Throughout the transfer window, United targeted a move for a new midfielder for the squad, resulting in a deal being pursued to land Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton.
It was reported that the Red Devils were keen on a deal for the England international, but a switch became unlikely after Amorim’s side were quoted a fee in the region of £100m.
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Adam Wharton in action against Chelsea.
Another option they considered was Brighton & Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba, even entering talks with the player’s representatives over a switch to Old Trafford.
At one stage, it appeared as though the player himself would be open to a switch to join the Red Devils, but like Wharton, he stayed at his current employers after the Seagulls stated he was not for sale.
Whilst the hierarchy were unable to land a new midfielder for Amorim, they still have a player on the books who desperately needs to be sold in the near future.
The United player who earns more than Wharton and Baleba
United do have numerous top-level talents on their books at present, with academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo just one of the options currently at Amorim’s disposal.
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However, the Englishman has found minutes hard to come by over the last couple of months, starting none of the Premier League outings - with his only start coming against Grimsby in the Carabao Cup.
As a result, the 20-year-old made his feelings clear before Monday’s deadline - subsequently asking to leave Old Trafford on a temporary basis to gain valuable game time.
He’s fallen behind Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes in the pecking order, with Brazilian Casemiro another player whom Amorim clearly trusts instead of Mainoo.
The former Real Madrid star joined in a £60m deal back in the summer of 2022, but has rapidly declined over recent times - as he heads towards the back end of his career at the age of 33.
Manchester United's Casemiro looks dejected after the match
Manchester United's Casemiro looks dejected after the match
Despite his age, Casemiro has started all three league outings, but has struggled to impress to date, only completing 80% of the passes he’s attempted in England’s top-flight.
However, despite his recent starts in Amorim’s side, his future appears up in the air, with the player only having one deal left on his contract at Old Trafford.
He probably should’ve been offloaded before now, with his performances last campaign failing to catch the eye - leading to Mark Goldbridge dubbing him as “shocking”.
His current £350k-per-week pay packet is way above what he should be earning - with such a figure making him the highest earner in the squad, taking home a staggering £18.2m per season.
|Man Utd's highest earners (2025/26)|
|Rank|Player|Gross pay per week|
|---|
|1|Casemiro|£350,000|
|=2|Bruno Fernandes|£300,000|
|3|Jadon Sancho|£250,000|
|4|Matthijs de Ligt|£195,000|
|5|Harry Maguire|£190,000|
|6|Matheus Cunha|£180,000|
|Stats via Capology|
The Brazilian currently earns more than Wharton and Baleba, with the pair currently only earning £35k and £12.5k-per-week respectively - highlighting how much the former Madrid talent is overpaid at present.
Given his mammoth earnings, United desperately need to clear the player off the bill, with a real impetus needing to be put on continuing their cost-cutting operation.
casemiro-man-united
There are so many better and cheaper options currently available in European football, which should see Amorim pursue a move for one of the aforementioned talents once again in the near future.