Make no mistake about it, the Premier League has gone spending mad in recent years.
The English top flight smashed the £1billion collective spend barrier during the summer and that sum looks set to be decimated next year.
But in the age of transfer records being set left, right and centre, it’s often hard to keep track of who is actually getting good value for money and who’s throwing their cheddar down the drain.
So with over a quarter of the season already gone, Football FanCast think it’s time the cost-effectiveness of all twenty Premier League clubs comes under some much overdue scrutiny.
Aided by our mates at Transfermarkt, here’s a rundown of the English top flight based on how much each point in the Premier League this season has cost them in the transfer market, cross-examining their current hauls with the purchase values of their squads.
And far from what you’d expect, it’s those fans supporting clubs at the more glamorous end of the table who’ll be most disappointed…
20. Burnley – £3.27m per point
Having claimed 14 points with a squad worth just shy of £46million, Burnley claim the title of the shrewdest buyers in the Premier League.
That probably shouldn’t be much of a surprise; the Turf Moor outfit are famed for their modest spending and Sean Dyche’s ability to get the absolute best out of his players.
19. Middlesbrough – £4.87m per point
Fellow new boys Middlesbrough should be pleased with their spending too, although Aitor Karanka’s boys are one of three sides just a single point above the relegation zone. This survival-contending squad cost just £53.58million to put together.
18. West Brom – £4.93m per point
West Brom partook in a late window spending spree but it’s been quickly justified by their impressive results, including a 2-1 win over Leicester City on Sunday. The Baggies are now eleventh in the table, just six points away from a Europa League spot.
17. Watford – £5.22m per point
Watford’s transfer policy continues to baffle some but it’s certainly brought good value for money, with the Hornets’ £78.26million-valued squad currently eighth in the Premier League. That averages out at £5.22million per point.
16. Bournemouth – £6.34m per point
Containing a number of players from their Football League days, Bournemouth’s squad cost just £76.12million to put together. They’re on course for another solid campaign, currently lying in 12th place, despite losing to rock-bottom Sunderland last weekend.
15. Stoke – £6.7m per point
Stoke City would probably be much higher in this list if they hadn’t endured such a slow start to the season, picking up just three points from their first seven games. Nonetheless, Mark Hughes’ squad, which set the club back £87.13million, are firmly on the up, winning three of their last four in the Premier League.
14. Hull – £7.47m per point
Hull City find themselves in the relegation zone and some fans might accordingly question the club’s lack of spending during the summer transfer window. But the current crop are proving decent value in the top flight, costing the Tigers £7.47million per point so far this season.
13. Everton – £9.14m per point
It was a tricky summer up at Goodison Park following the arrival of new investors and the departure of John Stones. Their squad is one of the most valuable in the Premier League according to Transfermarkt, at £164.45million, but Ronald Koeman’s provided the results to match this term – barring that battering by Chelsea last weekend.
12. Leicester City – £9.26m per point
Leicester City may be one of the cheapest-assembled champions of all time but their cost per point so far this season isn’t quite so impressive. Indeed, Claudio Ranieri’s £111million-rated squad have picked up just twelve this term, leaving them in lower-mid table.
11. Crystal Palace – £9.85m per point
Another side languishing delicately above the relegation zone, the acceleration of Crystal Palace’s financial firepower is yet to pay off for Alan Pardew. Indeed, his squad, worth £108million, are winless in five in the Premier League – losing four.
10. Tottenham Hotspur – £10.68m per point
Considering their outlay, a whopping £224.29million, Spurs can feel relatively proud of their ranking in this list. Indeed, their squad has cost just shy of £11million per point so far this season, but the north London outfit’s ratio would be even better if they hadn’t entered a surprising run of four consecutive draws.
9. Southampton – £11.4m per point
Southampton pride themselves on shrewdness in the transfer market but they’re actually in the top ten of the Premier League’s least effective spenders, with their £148.21million squad picking up just 13 points so far this season. By no means a cause for concern, but Claude Puel’s side could be doing a little better.
8. Liverpool – £11.47m per point
Liverpool may be sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League table but it’s come at a price – namely £289.21million. That works out at £11.47million per point but Reds fans will deem that a small price to pay if their club lifts a first ever Premier League title this season.
7. West Ham – £11.93m per point
West Ham went spending mad during the summer but Slaven Bilic’s boys have continually struggled for results this term, languishing just one point above the relegation zone. Their squad is one of the most expensive in the bottom half at a staggering £131.24million.
6. Arsenal – £13.3m per point
Arsene Wenger’s often accused of holding onto his money but Arsenal’s squad is the fourth-most expensively assembled in the Premier League at £319.28million. Accordingly, however, each of the fourth-placed outfit’s 24 points have set the club back just over £13million.
5. Swansea City – £15.43m per point
Claiming just five points so far this season, Swansea are the Premier League’s fifth-worst spenders despite having one of the cheapest squads in the division at just £77.13million. The Welsh outfit haven’t won since the opening day of the campaign and the change in management has worryingly lead to just one point in four.
4. Sunderland – £16.61m per point
Sunderland are parallel on points with the Welsh outfit but their squad cost around £6million more to put together. Whilst Swansea are amid a hopeless run, however, a win against Bournemouth suggests the Black Cats could be about to overturn their otherwise abysmal start to the season.
3. Chelsea – £16.7m per point
Antonio Conte’s 3-4-3 formation has seemingly revolutionised the Blues but Chelsea can’t escape having the third-most expensive squad in the Premier League. That works out at £16.7million per point but currently seems a worthwhile cost as the west London club continue to prove their title credentials
2. Manchester City – £20.92m per point
Pep Guardiola’s summer spend is yet to have the desired effect, with Manchester City currently two points off the top of the table and winning just one of their last five. Consequentially, their ratio has dropped to almost £21million per point so far this season – expensive stuff.
1. Manchester United – £31.76m per point
So there you have it, record-breaking spenders Manchester United are the least effective buyers in the Premier League. That perhaps shouldn’t be surprising considering their poor start to the season, the £89million spent on Paul Pogba alone and the Red Devils’ turbulent start to life under Jose Mourinho.