The Premier League table if it was determined by most expensive squads
The cost to form a team capable of challenging for the Premier League title is ever-increasing.
Each summer the top sides splash out hundreds of millions trying to secure the finest talent the world has to offer in an attempt to claim glory at the end of the season.
Even after 18 months of financial crisis, following the coronavirus pandemic, there were record-breaking deals to be done:
Midfield maestro Jack Grealish cost Champions Manchester City a whopping £100m to prize him away from Aston Villa.
Romelu Lukaku was subject to a £97.5m move to rejoin Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and Manchester United finally landed long-term target Jadon Sancho for £73 million.
Outspending rivals is no guarantee of success though, you need only look at Leicester City during the 2015/16 season to see that.
Spending may not assure a Premier League title but teams that splash more cash do tend to find themselves higher up the table at the end of the season.
Now that the summer transfer window has ended, the Football Observatory has noted down how much each squad cost to assemble and the resemblance to the actual table is uncanny.
Who do you think will win the Premier League this season? Let us know in the comments section.
Both Manchester United and neighbours City have spent over a billion euros in transfer fees, with the Red Devils narrowing the gap at the top to just €57m after a glittering window.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had a dream summer: the signings of Tom Heaton, Jadon Sanho and Raphael Varane was slick business before the Deadline Day capture of Cristiano Ronaldo shocked the footballing world.
Further down the table Chelsea and Liverpool occupy the remaining Champions League places; both the Blues and the Reds only splashed out on one major signing this summer with the arrivals of Romelu Lukaku and Ibrahima Konate respectively.
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North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham follow next with the Gunners still €42m behind Liverpool despite making the biggest moves in the window.
Mikel Arteta spent a total of £150 million over the summer, more than any other Premier League team.
New Spurs manager Nuno Espirito Santo spent less than half that amount, favouring foreign imports from Italy, France and Spain for a combined cost of £60m.
The full table from CIES Football Observatory can be read here:
1. Manchester City – €1,080m
2. Manchester United – €1,023m
3. Chelsea – €780m
4. Liverpool – €672m
5. Arsenal – €630m
6. Tottenham Hotspur – €551m
7. Everton – €467m
8. Leicester City – €411m
9. Aston Villa – €351m
10. Wolverhampton Wanderers – €309m
11. West Ham United – €302m
12. Newcastle United – €277m
13. Crystal Palace – €240m
14. Southampton – €224m
15. Leeds United – €211m
16. Brighton and Hove Albion – €196m
17. Burnley – €130m
18. Brentford – €109m
19. Watford – €97m
20. Norwich City – €87m
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