MANCHESTER UNITED have the most expensive squad in world football.
The Red Devils spent close to £180million this summer in a bid to compete for the Premier League title.
Erik ten Hag splashed the cash on Rasmus Hojlund (£72m), Mason Mount (£60m) and Andre Onana (£47m) as he continued his Old Trafford overhaul.
The Dutchman took over last summer and bought Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, Christian Eriksen, Casemiro and £85.5m man Antony during his first window in charge, subsequently adding to an already high-profile squad.
Even before Ten Hag's arrival, Man Utd had the likes of Harry Maguire (£80m), Jadon Sancho (£73m) and Bruno Fernandes (£60m).
And they now have the most expensive squad in the world as a result, totalling a whopping £989.6m.
Read More on Football
Champions League stadium with 52k seats left abandoned with smashed turnstiles
Get £20 in free bets when you stake £5 on football with Ladbrokes
Chelsea are also nearing the £1billion mark.
The Blues have actually spent £1b on transfers over the last year, but outgoings have seen the squad total fall just below the mark.
Although they recently bid farewell to the likes of Kai Havertz, Mason Mount, Kalidou Koulibaly, Mateo Kovacic and Edouard Mendy, the Blues have outspent every other club in the world since Todd Boehly took over.
Chelsea splashed a then-record-breaking £107m on Enzo Fernandez in January before spending a further £115m on Moises Caicedo last month.
Most read in Sport
JOE BLOW
Awkward moment Joe Cole is left shocked by Souness’ bold England call
ENTER THE DRAGON
Man Utd confirm new kit sponsor but fans fear it means Glazers are staying
SCOTLAND 1 ENGLAND 3
Bellingham on fire as Three Lions smash Scots despite Maguire shocker
RINSE HARRY
Fans hail Maguire as ‘Scotland’s best striker’ after he ‘does the inevitable’
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS AND BONUSES NEW CUSTOMERS
Mykhailo Mudryk (£97m), Wesley Fofana (£70m) and Marc Cucurella (£62m) are also among the club's most expensive signings, but all three players have struggled for game time since joining.
Treble-winners Man City have the third most expensive squad in football,
Pep Guardiola has built a super-team at the Etihad Stadium, with quality in every position.
Jack Grealish became the club's most expensive signing when he joined from Aston Villa for £100m back in 2021.
New signing Josko Gvardiol joined for a huge £78m earlier this summer, while star men Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland are also among the club's most expensive players.
Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain also have one of the most lucrative squads, with Kylian Mbappe notably their most expensive star.
And Arsenal complete the top five with a squad that cost £719.4m.
Declan Rice became the club's most expensive player this summer when he completed a £105m move from West Ham.
Kai Havertz also set the Gunners back a huge £65m in June.
Prem sides Tottenham (£713m), Liverpool (£662.8m), Newcastle (£569.1m) and West Ham (£434m) are also among the top ten, along with La Liga giants Real Madrid.
Aston Villa have the 11th most expensive team in the world, according to Football Observatory, with Juventus, RB Leipzig, Napoli, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich – who signed England captain Harry Kane for £104m this summer – also in the top 20.
Al-Hilal were also confirmed to have one of the most expensive squads amid the Saudi Pro League's ongoing takeover.
However, in perhaps the biggest shock, both Everton and Nottingham Forest are both ranked in the top 20.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Woman shot dead at manor that featured on BBC show as man arrested
Helen Flanagan branded ‘embarrassing’ by mum-shamers as she poses on lunch date
Currently 18th in the Premier League table, Everton have a squad worth £359.9m.
And ninth-placed Forest are valued at £314.2m following Steve Cooper's squad overhaul, which has seen 44 new players signed since the club gained promotion to England's top tier last summer.
Source: Read Full Article