MANCHESTER UNITED had by far the biggest wage bill in the Premier League last season – paying more than double the division’s average.
The Old Trafford side paid out a staggering £352million on salaries – both players and other staff – during the course of the 2018/19 campaign.
Manchester United forked out a staggering £352m in wages during the 2018/19 season” width=”960″ height=”640″ />
That equated to a wages-to-revenue ratio of 56 per cent, as the club took in a total of £627m across the year.
In the previous season, 2017/18, United’s wage bill stood at £296m while revenue was £590m meaning the ratio was 50 per cent.
Incredibly, last season 11 United stars earned more than £100,000 a week or more, four of those pocketed in excess of £200,000 per week, with Alexis Sanchez pocketing up to £505,000 per week when bonuses are added.
And despite Sanchez heading to Inter Milan on loan this season, who paid a large chunk of his wages, the annual bill is surely set to go up once again.
David De Gea penned a new contract worth £375,000 per week in September while Marcus Rashford boosted his pay packet to a tidy £200,000 per week.
The summer arrival of Harry Maguire followed by Bruno Fernandes and Odion Ighalo in January – all on at least £100,000 – will also bump up the payments.
Ex-Leicester man Maguire is thought to be earning around £189,000 per week while the loan agreement with Shanghai Shenhua means United pay around £125,000 of Ighalo’s wages.
Add into the mix the devastating impact of coronavirus this year on revenues – predicted to be more than £1billion across the Premier League – and it does not make pretty reading for Ed Woodward or United fans, especially if they fail to qualify for the Champions League once again.
The Red Devils’ accounts, released in May, also revealed the club’s debt has risen by £127.4m to an eye-watering £429.1m.
Manchester United did not force players into wage cuts but captain Maguire asked his team-mates to join him in donating 30 per cent of their income to support the NHS.
Not only was United’s £352m wage bill for 2018/19 more than double the £158m average across the Premier League, it was also £37m more than any other club.
Manchester City – who pipped Liverpool by a point to be crowned champions – paid out £315m in wages for their title-winning campaign.
Chelsea were just £1m behind City, with Jurgen Klopp’s Reds a further £4m behind Maurizio Sarri’s side.
The top six, unsurprisingly, was completed by North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham.
The Gunners paid out £235m in salaries while Spurs were further back on £179m as the two sides both lost European finals.
It means in total, the ‘Big Six’ paid a staggering £1.7bn in salaries last season.
In comparison, relegated duo Cardiff and Huddersfield were the two lowest-paying clubs with £54m and £64m respectively.
