Manchester United have spent a fortune on transfer fees and wages with the current squad painting a bleak picture
Rasmus Hojlund and Jadon Sancho in Man Utd training
Rasmus Hojlund and Jadon Sancho are among the high earners loaned out by Manchester United(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
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The last few years have seen Manchester United spend big in an effort to pull themselves back towards the top of the Premier League but they haven't always been successful. The extent of the wasted money can be put into context with a simple look at the club's wage bill.
Since the summer of 2021, the Red Devils have spent more than £950million while recouping less than £300m in fees for players sold. However, that doesn't tell the whole story.
United are poised to trim their wage bill in the summer when top earner Casemiro leaves upon the expiry of his contract. More savings will follow if Barcelona take up their option on Marcus Rashford, though there have been murmurings that Michael Carrick might be less determined than Ruben Amorim to part ways with the English forward.
According to Spotrac, Casemiro and Rashford are on £33.8m per year between them, although Barca are currently covering the Englishman's wages in full. Millions more are going to others who, by most people's estimation, can be considered unwanted by the club.
United agreed to pay Jadon Sancho and Andre Onana six-figure weekly salaries and yet both seem very much surplus to requirements while they spend time out on loan. Sancho is almost certain to find himself looking for a new club in the summer when his contract expires while Onana's future relies on finding a willing buyer.
Rasmus Hojlund, on an estimated £85,000 per week, was also offloaded on loan. The Dane could well complete a permanent move to Napoli in the summer after it was made clear United preferred Benjamin Sesko as the man to lead their line.
Andre Onana at Trabzonspor
Andre Onana is spending the season on loan at Trabzonspor(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Tyrell Malacia was the one member of the so-called 'bomb squad' not to secure an exit in the summer but he has barely featured this season to add millions to the wage bill. Joshua Zirkzee might have a future at the club if he's willing to accept a back-up role but he'd be a very expensive one, having started just four games this season and none under Carrick.
United won't currently be paying the full wages of Sancho, Onana and Hojlund, with the club on the hook for varying amounts based on the terms of their respective loans. Even so, those three - as well as Zirkzee and Malacia - account for just over £30m per year in wages alone.
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Then we add in the transfer fees, which come to a combined sum of roughly £230m. Only a fraction of that total is likely to be recouped by the club, with Hojlund the only one of the five expected to earn United more than half of their initial outlay.
This summer will no doubt feel like a pivotal one for United and their fans, regardless of which manager they have in the dugout. Still, they already know the damage that can be caused when they get things wrong.
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