MANCHESTER UNITED’s first team squad is worth less than BRIGHTON’S, according to statistical experts.
Analysts at the prestigious Swiss-based CIES Football Observatory have assessed the individual transfer values of top flight players across Europe.
And in a sign of how the Old Trafford club has regressed under Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim, the number crunchers calculate United’s squad is worth £118m LESS than in October 2024, despite spending £215m on players in the summer.
United landed Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko as well as keeper Senne Lammens, with Amorim given the firepower he craved.
But they sold Alejandro Garnacho and cast off Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Andre Onana on loan deals.
So far the summer spending spree has not exactly sparked United into action with doubts over the manager’s future still hanging in the Old Trafford air.
Even after Saturday’s win over Sunderland, Amorim’s side stand 10th in the Prem table, six points adrift of leaders Arsenal and just six above the relegation zone, while they face a trip to Anfield after the international break.
CIES say that United’s squad is now worth £710m, down from £828m 12 months ago and despite a rise in the value of sterling against the Euro.
That puts the Old Trafford side down to 12th in a table dominated by Prem sides and headed by Chelsea.
While falling behind the rest of the Big Six will be a blow to pride – and a huge rebuke of United’s recruitment strategies – the Red Devils are also below the South Coast Seagulls.
CIES totted up the value of Fabian Hurzeler’s squad at £719m, meaning Brighton are also ranked above European giants Atletico Madrid, Juventus and AC Milan.
The calculation is a signal of Hurzeler’s work in improving his players, whose collective value is up by around £50m over the past year.
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