Kieran Maguire slams Man United after incredible £877m reveal
Man United spend money on transfers at an almost incomparable rate - but there has been "far too many Donny van de Beeks."
So says finance boffin Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about a recent report which shows the extent of United's spending.
Data published by the CIES Football Observatory on 6 September show that the Red Devils' current squad cost £739milllion to assemble.
That figure rises to £877m with future transfer add-ons taken into account and, in world football, is second only to Man City's squad cost.
Van de Beek signed from Ajax last summer in a £35m deal which could rise to £40m with add-ons included, as per BBC Sport.
But the Dutchman has not prospered at Old Trafford and, according to the Athletic on 6 September, almost quit the club for Everton last month.
And Maguire asserts that the 24-year-old's lack of success is indicative of a wider problem with United's spend-happy recruitment model.
He told Football Insider correspondent Adam Williams: "If you look at Man United's spend since Sir Alex retired, it has really accelerated.
"So I think when it comes to their results in recent years, you have to look at it from a qualitative rather than a quantitative point of view.
"They have spent £1.35billion since Sir Alex retired. But unfortunately, there have been far too many Donny Van de Beeks.
"There's a £40m signing that, in all honesty, they would probably rather forget about."