Man Utd wages: Top 10 earners at Old Trafford revealed as Ratcliffe cost-cutting continues

Manchester United have the second highest wage bill in the Premier League. The total yearly sum they pay their players is believed to be £185,580,000.

Second only to champions Manchester City (£201,864,000), that’s higher than title challengers Arsenal (£172,146,000), Liverpool (£128,804,000) and Chelsea (£171,210,000), the side former United captain Gary Neville labelled “billion-pound bottle jobs.”

As part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe continues his overhaul of all aspects of the club, he and the sporting impresarios of his INEOS group will be looking over the list of the biggest earners at Man Utd and wondering how to reduce the cost of the squad – something they already did to the tune of £20,176,000 this summer, while they are also now ending their multi-million pound commitment to club ambassador and legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson – while improving its on-field success.

Here are United’s 10 top earners and what – if any – value they offer.

Casemiro – £350,000 a week

Arriving from Real Madrid in a £60 million deal two summers ago, Casemiro was the marquee arrival designed to jolt the Erik ten Hag era into life.

And initially he did just that. The Brazilian veteran was United’s best player for much of his first season at Old Trafford and helped the club overcome back-to-back losses at the start of the campaign to finish third and qualify for the Champions League.

But the 32-year-old has aged rapidly over the last 18 months, now lacking the athleticism to cover ground and shield the backline as he once did. The five-time Champions League winner looks a prime candidate for a money-spinning swansong in the Saudi Pro League.

Bruno Fernandes – £300,000 a week

Portuguese playmaker Bruno Fernandes isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. The former Sporting CP star is a serial whiner and can be erratic in possession.

But he is the one United player above all others who delivers when his team needs him, and one of few at Ten Hag’s disposal who has the quality and production to theoretically get into the team at one of the league’s current title chasers.

The 29-year-old United captain has scored 79 goals in 244 games since arriving for £67.6 million in January 2020. He is one of few transfer-market success stories the club can boast in recent years, which earned him a new contract and bump from his previous £240,000 weekly pay packet in August.

Marcus Rashford – £300,000 a week

A more difficult player to assess from a value standpoint than those currently out-earning him at United, Marcus Rashford has shown he has the tools to be among the best forwards in Europe. The season before last, the Three Lions star logged a career-high 30 goals in all competitions.

But the 26-year-old still lacks consistency and appears to be regressing as he enters what should be his peak years. With just eight goals to his name last term, he recorded his second-worst single-season return since he broke into the United first team as a teenager.

Mason Mount – £250,000 a week

One of Ten Hag’s hand-picked signings last summer, United fended off rival interest from Liverpool to sign Mason Mount from Chelsea for £55 million.

But the England midfielder made next to no impact in his first season at Old Trafford, with injuries limiting him to just five Premier League starts and one goal for the 20-time champions.

It’s been a nightmare beginning to his Old Trafford career, but Mount is still only 25 years old. With better injury luck, there’s time yet for him to turn things around.

Antony – £200,000 a week

On the flipside, there is Antony. An £84 million signing from Ajax two summers ago, the Brazilian has categorically failed to deliver since his Old Trafford arrival.

No longer considered a regular starter in Ten Hag’s side – despite the history he has of working with the United boss previously in Amsterdam – the 24-year-old winger got just one Premier League goal and assist each to his name last season.

Reports suggest United are looking to move on from him, provided they can find a buyer.

HAVE YOU SEEN: Ranking every player Erik ten Hag has signed for Man Utd from worst to best

Matthijs de Ligt – £195,000 a week

Another of Ten Hag’s former pupils from Ajax, Matthijs de Ligt has endured a topsy-turvy progression pathway since those days.

The clubs he has represented are all big: Juventus, Bayern Munich and now Man Utd. However, he has sometimes struggled for consistency at the highest level, and some eyebrows were raised when United invested in him over the summer.

De Ligt has become United’s highest-paid defender and his first few appearances have been steady if not spectacular.

Harry Maguire – £190,000 a week

United paid a staggering £85 million to sign Harry Maguire from Leicester City in 2019, but he has failed to live up to his lofty price tag and will likely be worth much less when the time comes to leave.

The imposing England centre-back enjoyed a fine first season under then-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

But he has regressed since, facing the ignominy of losing the captaincy to Fernandes and flitting in and out of the starting line-up depending on the form and fitness of his colleagues.

Christian Eriksen – £150,000 a week

When United picked up Christian Eriksen as a free agent after his short-term contract with Brentford expired in the summer of 2022, it looked like a savvy move from the Red Devils; a low-cost acquisition of an experienced player who offered quality and production in a position of need.

But when the Dane’s wages are factored in, Eriksen’s signing looks less of a home run. Ten Hag relied heavily on the former Tottenham star in his first season, handing him 25 Premier League starts.

Last term, the 32-year-old started only 12 league games. His sizeable contract still has one year remaining.

Luke Shaw – £150,000 a week

When fit and firing, Luke Shaw easily justifies his £150,000-a-week salary. The only problem is the England left-back is so often bitten by the injury bug.

The 29-year-old last played for United in February, dealing with a number of setbacks since.

He started just 12 Premier League games last season and his continued absence is a blow to both Ten Hag and the England national team, who usually had to make do without a natural left-back at Euro 2024.

Jadon Sancho – £150,000 a week

United chased Jadon Sancho’s signature for 18 months before finally landing their man in 2021. But since a £73 million move from Borussia Dortmund, the England winger has failed to meet expectations, returning just nine Premier League goals and six assists since his arrival.

A spat with Ten Hag saw the 24-year-old banished from the first-team squad back in September 2023, after which he went on loan back to Dortmund.

Now, he is on loan at Chelsea, who are covering a decent portion of his salary but with United still rumoured to be topping up £150,000 every week.

If we were to only consider players currently in the Man Utd squad, the top 10 would instead be rounded out by summer signing Noussair Mazraoui.

GO FURTHER: Every player Man Utd got rid of in ruthless summer clearout – and who should be next