Aug 30
Deadline Day Approaches. So, United vs Chelsea: Who Spent More?
Ed’s Note: This article was written a couple of weeks ago. Just added Belletti’s signing to it.
With transfer deadline day looming large over us, it would be a good time to look at our closest rivals and compare our spending with them. So over to you Ronak…
Jose Mourinho insists the pressure is on United this season after our extensive summer spending spree. But are his claims yet again unfounded? Have we really spent that much? Let’s take a look at the significant moves of past two seasons:
2006/07
In: Carrick - £18m
Out: Jones - £1m, Howard - £3m, van Nistelrooy - £10m, Mikel - £12m.
(£25m)
Net Spending: -£8m
2007/08
In: Hargreaves - £17m, Anderson - £8m*, Nani - £8m*, Kuszczak - £2m, Tevez
- £4.5m** (£39.5m)
Out: Richardson - £5.5m, Rossi - £6.7m, Smith - £6m (£18.2m)
Net Spending: £21.3m
Total Spending: £13.3m
* initial fee.
** loan fee.
Through no magic trick it now becomes apparent that our total outlay of the past 2 seasons is less than half of the cost of one Andriy Shevchenko, but okay, maybe it wasn’t the special one’s decision to spend that “£30-56m”. But there were plenty that he did choose to sign:
Chelski’s Mourinho’s transfers:
In: Kalou - £8m, Mikel - £12m, Boulahrouz - £8.5m, Malouda - £13.5m, Belletti (£2m)
(£42m)
Out: Gudjohnsen - £8m, Duff - £5m, Del Horno - £4.8m, Huth - £6m (£23.8m)
Net Spending: £20.2m
There have been many ‘free’ signings in addition, but with Ballack costing £135,000 a week and Tal Ben Haim earning a hilarious £65,000 - how free are they really?
So even without Shevchenko, Chelski have managed to spend more than United, and if the rumours are true they are set to splash another £24m on Sevilla’s Daniel Alves. and without splashing on Alves.
So Jose, who is the pressure really on this season? (Answer: Liverpool, but that’s another story…)
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Related items from Red Rants:- What Did We Learn from Deadline Day Transfers
- Deadline Day Looms…
- Hargreaves Move Confirmed - Breaking News
- Why Moving to Liverpool Won’t Help Heinze
- Can you lead Manchester United to the Premier League title?
Tags: Opinions/Columns
August 30th, 2007 at 10:51
You forgot the proceeds from Heinze’s sale.
August 30th, 2007 at 11:03
Could not agree more. Chelski have always bought players that are “established” and have proved themselves. Considering that there isn’t much “future” in their investments [Cannot off load that talent for money, higher wages to pay[, if we were to include the probable cost of the talents we have [Ronaldo, Nani, Rooney, Tevez, Anderson, Hargreaves, Carrick - not that we are gonna lose any of these, at least for some time..] our spending takes on a whole new meaning……
What can they possible get for a Sheva, Ballack or even their younger players who are being touted for much lesser than what they paid….. So Moaninho better reserve his “pressure” tactics to teams and managers who really care.. We definitely don’t and I am sure SAF doesn’t either..
August 30th, 2007 at 11:20
Mikel cost Chelsea 16m, 12m to us and 4m to Lynn-Oslo.
August 30th, 2007 at 11:29
You also forgot Ash Cole, I also like the way ‘initial’ fee dresses it up for you.
Surely then the ‘initial’ feel for United: Signings 2007/08.
In: Hargreaves - £18m, Anderson - £17m, Nani - £17m, Kuszczak - £2m, Tevez* (Loan Deal)£4.5m (£58.5m)
Out: Richardson - £5.5m, Rossi - £6.7m, Smith - £6m (£18.2m)
Net Spending: £40.3m
Now, for Chelsea - signings 2007/08.
Chelski’s Mourinho’s transfers:
In: Malouda - £13.5m, Belletti - £2m, Ben Haim - Free, Sidwell - Free, Pizarro - Free, Alex - Nominal fee £1
(£15,5million £1)
Out: Boularouz - Loan, Robben - £25m, Geremi - Free.
(£25million)
Net Spending: £9,5 Million Profit (Minus One Pound).
So, seeing as money spent has equaled ‘pressure’ recently, I’d say that for once, the pressure is off Mourinho, and squarely on the Red Side of the Premiership, namely Fergus and Rafa.
August 30th, 2007 at 11:31
Yes, but do we care? It’s really about success on the pitch, not cash reserves in the bank. Sometimes managing at this level is about having the cajones to spend big. The alternative is to follow Wenger’s model and wait for everyone to tell you how wonderful you are for achieving anything without spending much. Ferguson and Mourinho (and even Benitez) are prepared to take risks on expensive players, even though they might not work out. Who cares who has spent the most - as long as United win?
August 30th, 2007 at 11:45
dude you are confused….khalid is out this year and not in..and gudjohnsen went last year..so did huth i think..do you mind changing it??
August 30th, 2007 at 11:49
united ftw who care abt the cash all the thre clubs are owned by man in black suits so who cares they got lot to blow let it be in football
and yeah fergie is never in pressure so mourihno can go to hell he needs CL more than us but then its our so fuck off
August 30th, 2007 at 11:54
One aside being the fact that the Anderson, Nani and Tevez purchases/loans when counted in terms of initial payments only impies repeat year on costs which will in turn therefore have implications for the following years transfer budgets.
August 30th, 2007 at 11:58
You seem to have conveniently forgot that Chelsea sold Robben for £25 and you’ve cut the price of Tevez, balloonedthe prices of Boularouz and Kalou - neither of whom cost £8m.
Ben has a very good point too - on top of this, we all know that Chelsea pay inflated prices.
Are you sure United only brought in Carrick in the 06/07 season? What about players like Frazier Campbell - how much did you pay for him?
August 30th, 2007 at 12:22
One obvious absentee from the Chelsea sales is that of Robben for £21M.
August 30th, 2007 at 12:24
To be fair, for a proper comparison all players should be done at full cost (or the 2 year loan fee for Tevez). It would appear that the values used for Chelsea players are all full cost whilst Utd’s seem to be using mixed methods of valuation.
August 30th, 2007 at 12:45
How come no mention of Robben ?
August 30th, 2007 at 12:46
Don’t forget, Hargreaves signed on July 1st, meaning his cost isn’t on the balance sheet ’til next year!
All clever stuff from the Glazers…..we’ll continue to make a net profit on our transfers every year, and of course they’re saving that £25m per year they promised us, aren’t they? Oooooh, think about it, we’re due a HUGE windfall soon aren’t we?!
August 30th, 2007 at 13:14
anelka has signed a new deal, but its ok, rooney will be back in 2-3 weeks IMO, we have saha now, anderson, dong and campbell and tevez, we have a decent strike force, and i see why SAF dosent want to bring in another striker.
August 30th, 2007 at 13:38
I’m sorry about some of the inaccuracies, but I’d really just written this a few weeks ago (before Heinze was sold etc) as a rough draft.
Mikel was definitely £16m on Chelski’s side tho, my mistake
August 30th, 2007 at 16:00
I know the whole potential striker signing aspects have been done on here but what has happened to gudjohnsen? Am i the only one that thinks he’d make a cracking addition and a good ole replacement. He’s versatile, is a good finisher, has prem experience, and has some presense in the air which i think we’ve lacked lately…
August 30th, 2007 at 16:53
Regardless of the money spent it is clear that Chelski spent for players who will help them NOW. United did get some players for now, but Nani and Anderson are clearly purchases earmarked for the future. That may not sit well with fans who want to compete now but we should reap the benefits big time in two or three years. That said, Chelski doesn’t seem to ever run out of money and so they are not as financially restricted as United is. We have to choose players for the future because of the unfair playing field created by Mr Russian Moneybags. Chelski play the game like they are using Monopoly money and that the world will end by May 1st. Desperation is a sad thing, even if it works. They are truly a sad side and their fans, starved for years are eating this garbage up.
Fergie and the club have done exceedingly well in the transfer market getting great players. And even though we are off to slow start, there is a period of adjustment that has to occur to assimilate all these players. Injuries of course have caused chaos but those things tend to even themselves out in time. Chelski will have their injury woes in time. My only regret so far has been not being able to get either Berbatov or Huntelaar. In my opinion that is our missing link. Although we want to win now, we are building for the long haul as well. Intelligent and sound practice from the boys at Old Trafford will see us through. Now if could just tweak our tactics a bit while on the pitch….
August 30th, 2007 at 17:20
group f
August 30th, 2007 at 17:38
Roma, get your stab proof vests and hard hats ready!!!
August 30th, 2007 at 18:06
Group F: Manchester United, AS Roma, Sporting Lisbon, Dynamo Kiev
August 30th, 2007 at 22:17
“I am a Manchester United boy. Until the day arrives when Sir Alex Ferguson doesn’t want me, I will be happy to stay,” Simpson said.
just thought is was great to see another united player who loves united, unlike gabby
August 31st, 2007 at 11:48
mate i dnt know were u gt ur facts from for how much these players cost because they r all practically wrong especially tevez’, anderson’s and nani’s ronako please save us ur bogus posts from now on