I think this has to be said.
Over the last two years Manchester United have signed:
Daniel James - 15 million
AWB - 50 million
Fred - 53 millio
Dalot - 19 million
140 million (27 million raised in player sales)
Net - 115 million
In the same time period:
Tottenham
Ndombele - 63 million
Jack Clarke - 10 million
73 million (30 million raised in player sales)
Net - 45 million
Arsenal:
Saliba - 27 million
Martinelli - 6 million
Torreira- 25 million
Leno - 22 million
Sokratis - 14 million
Guendozi - 7 million
107 million (10 million raised in player sales)
Net - 95 million
Liverpool:
Van der Berg - 1 million
Allison - 56 million
Keita - 54 milion
Fabinho - 40 million
Shaqiri- 14million
165 million (55 million raised in player sales)
Net - 110 million
Chelsea -
Kovacic - 40 million
Kepa - 72 million
Pulisic - 57 million
Jorgino - 50 milion
229 million (170 million raised in player sales)
Net - 60 million
Man City -
Rodri - 63 million
Angelino - 10 million
Steffan - 7 million
Mahrez - 61 million
Palaversa - 6 million
150 million (70 million raised in player sales)
Net - 80 million
Over the last two years, we have spent more (net sales wise) than any other of the top six teams. We have spent gross more than Tottenham/Arsenal and equivalent to Liverpool.
I categorically do not like the Glazer family. I think the nature of the buy out and the increase in ticket prices have been catastrophic to the matchday experience. However, by any metric (2 year/5 year/10 year) our net spend and gross spend is consistently in the top 2/3 in the league. If we sign Harry Maguire (currently looking relatively likely) then we have spent the most gross/net out of all the top six clubs.
We would all like more signings. We would all like us to compete with the very best and win leagues. However, spending money above and beyond every other team isn't always the best way to do it.
I just tabulated United's, Chelsea's and Man City's transfers in and out since 2003 when Glazers and Abramovich got involved in the clubs respectively. I have done City since 2003 as a baseline and since their takeover as well. Check out the numbers, both clubs have outspent United despite generating significantly less on the commercial side of things.
Man Utd.
Summer of Departures Arrivals Net Spend
2003 $ 64.44 $ 67.26 $ 2.82
2004 $ 10.90 $ 69.83 $ 58.93
2005 $ 9.01 $ 36.35 $ 27.34
2006 $ 20.52 $ 31.01 $ 10.49
2007 $ 53.12 $ 117.99 $ 64.87
2008 $ 8.49 $ 51.59 $ 43.10
2009 $ 119.09 $ 31.12 $ (87.97)
2010 $ 19.74 $ 33.40 $ 13.66
2011 $ 15.73 $ 71.02 $ 55.29
2012 $ 11.00 $ 87.15 $ 76.15
2013 $ 2.05 $ 87.93 $ 85.88
2014 $ 56.16 $ 222.70 $ 166.54
2015 $ 116.36 $ 177.84 $ 61.48
2016 $ 53.75 $ 210.90 $ 157.15
2017 $ 51.87 $ 226.18 $ 174.31
2018 $ 34.83 $ 94.28 $ 59.45
2019 $ - $ 82.08 $ 82.08
Total $ 647.06 $ 1,698.63 $ 1,051.57
Avg per season $ 61.86
Chelsea
Summer of Departures Arrivals Net Spend
2003 $ 1.08 $ 192.89 $ 191.81
2004 $ 3.76 $ 189.70 $ 185.94
2005 $ 38.87 $ 104.31 $ 65.44
2006 $ 59.96 $ 101.43 $ 41.47
2007 $ 49.76 $ 67.26 $ 17.50
2008 $ 50.79 $ 34.77 $ (16.02)
2009 $ 4.33 $ 34.20 $ 29.87
2010 $ 18.81 $ 138.51 $ 119.70
2011 $ 36.94 $ 109.95 $ 73.01
2012 $ 29.01 $ 125.06 $ 96.05
2013 $ 88.27 $ 148.60 $ 60.33
2014 $ 165.13 $ 156.98 $ (8.15)
2015 $ 99.74 $ 103.17 $ 3.43
2016 $ 123.58 $ 151.39 $ 27.81
2017 $ 228.68 $ 296.97 $ 68.29
2018 $ 81.80 $ 239.40 $ 157.60
2019 $ 136.40 $ 51.30 $ (85.10)
Total $ 1,216.91 $ 2,245.89 $ 1,028.98
Avg per season $ 64.31
Man City
Summer of Departures Arrivals Net Spend
2003 $ 7.55 $ 18.88 $ 11.33
2004 $ 13.05 $ 1.71 $ (11.34)
2005 $ 37.05 $ 14.22 $ (22.83)
2006 $ 4.79 $ 7.41 $ 2.62
2007 $ 12.04 $ 88.86 $ 76.82
2008 $ 30.21 $ 179.38 $ 149.17
2009 $ 35.28 $ 167.92 $ 132.64
2010 $ 42.35 $ 209.31 $ 166.96
2011 $ 35.57 $ 103.80 $ 68.23
2012 $ 50.50 $ 70.62 $ 20.12
2013 $ 12.88 $ 132.24 $ 119.36
2014 $ 34.91 $ 117.19 $ 82.28
2015 $ 76.88 $ 237.46 $ 160.58
2016 $ 40.30 $ 243.39 $ 203.09
2017 $ 104.14 $ 361.95 $ 257.81
2018 $ 61.67 $ 89.59 $ 27.92
2019 $ 36.48 $ 102.60 $ 66.12
$ 635.65 $ 2,146.53 $ 1,510.88
Avg per season $ 94.43
Man City
Summer of Departures Arrivals Net Spend
2007 $ 12.04 $ 88.86 $ 76.82
2008 $ 30.21 $ 179.38 $ 149.17
2009 $ 35.28 $ 167.92 $ 132.64
2010 $ 42.35 $ 209.31 $ 166.96
2011 $ 35.57 $ 103.80 $ 68.23
2012 $ 50.50 $ 70.62 $ 20.12
2013 $ 12.88 $ 132.24 $ 119.36
2014 $ 34.91 $ 117.19 $ 82.28
2015 $ 76.88 $ 237.46 $ 160.58
2016 $ 40.30 $ 243.39 $ 203.09
2017 $ 104.14 $ 361.95 $ 257.81
2018 $ 61.67 $ 89.59 $ 27.92
2019 $ 36.48 $ 102.60 $ 66.12
$ 573.21 $ 2,104.31 $ 1,531.10
Avg per season $ 117.78