Man Utd's £1.4bn net spend buys mid-table displays, Sky analysis finds

📰 Manchester United have spent more than anyone, but their performances look like those of a mid-table side. 📌 Key points 💷 United's net spend since 2016 is £1.4bn, the highest in the league. 📈 That is 40% more than any other club. 📉 Their average expected finish over the last five seasons was ninth. 🍀 They have taken 56 more points than expected. 🧑‍💼 Carrick is the manager who has most outperformed expectations. 📝 What happened 💷 According to Sky Sports' Between the Lines analysis, United's net spend since 2016 is £1.4bn, 40% higher than any other club's. In eight of the last 10 seasons, their net spend rank was higher than their expected points rank, and never the other way round. 📉 Performances have not matched the money. From 2021-22 to 2025-26, United's average expected finish was ninth. In 2023-24 under Erik ten Hag they finished eighth, but their performances were those of a 14th-placed side. 🍀 Even so, United have 669 Premier League points since 2016, the fifth-highest total, against an expected 613, a surplus of 56 points. Only Everton have outperformed their expected points by more. Last season's third-place finish on 71 points came from an expected 61. 🧑‍💼 Michael Carrick averages 1.85 points per game against an expected 1.37, the biggest overperformance among recent managers, though this season he is three points below expected. Gary Neville said: 'Michael Carrick hasn't picked all those players out on that pitch. That's where all eyes should be looking now.' 📊 By the numbers • Net spend since 2016: £1.4bn (40% more than any other club) • League points since 2016: 669 (expected: 613) • Average expected finish, 2021-22 to 2025-26: ninth • Carrick points per game: 1.85 (expected: 1.37) 🔭 Why it matters The analysis supports the view that recruitment, not Carrick, is the bigger problem. United visit Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on 31 October.