Pundit suggests £16.6m Man United reveal is major factor in Solskjaer sacking
Kevin Phillips has suggested the significantly increased wage bill at Man United was a contributing factor to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s dismissal.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Premier League striker said the club’s hierarchy would have disappointed with performances this season following sizeable investment in the summer.
Man United confirmed the departure of Solskjaer on Sunday after a dismal 4-1 defeat at Watford.
Analysis of the club’s accounts show the wage bill rose by £16.6 million (23.1 per cent) in the first quarter of the season.
The increase comes after the signings of Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho in the summer.
When asked by Football Insider for his assessment of the figures, Phillips said: “From a business point of view, it doesn’t look good at all.
“If they were sitting top of the league, six points clear you would say, ‘Brilliant.’ But to have a 23 per cent increase in wages and be way off the pace is not a good return.
“That is not what the powers that be will be looking for so it’s unsurprising to see Solskjaer sacked really.
“When you go to Man United, you command big, big money. But there are players at United that are picking up big wages and have not performed.
“There were clearly problems in the camp. It was an important game for Ole yesterday and he didn’t get the result.”
In other news, Kieran Maguire has claimed Man United are the ‘only team in Premier League’ who do this after £9million payout is confirmed.