Leeds United suddenly returned to action late in the summer transfer window, signing winger Daniel James from Manchester United for a reported fee of £25m.
The Wales international had been a long-term target for the Whites, who came agonisingly close to securing his signature back in 2019 when he was on the books of Championship side Swansea City.
However, in forking out for James, Leeds have allowed their bitter rivals to make a healthy profit on the 23-year-old.
In fact, James is one of just five players Manchester United have made a profit on in the last decade if reported fees are correct, as explained by the Daily Star.
The Red Devils signed James for a reported fee of £15m in 2019, meaning the sale of the winger to Leeds has pocketed the club a £10m profit on the initial figure if add-ons are excluded.
Chris Smalling, Alexander Buttner, Daley Blind and Javier Hernandez are the only other players Manchester United have made a profit on in the last decade despite recruiting a raft of young prospects.
Smalling was signed from Fulham for a reported £7m but it is claimed Manchester United sold him for double that fee to Roma.
Buttner signed for Dynamo Moscow for a fee said to be worth £1.6m more than the fee Manchester United paid for him, whilst Blind was reportedly sold for £5m more than the figure he is said to have cost in the first place.
Hernandez was landed for a reported £6.5m, meaning the £7.3m Manchester United are claimed to have earned from his sale would have secured an £800,000 profit.
Although Leeds may have handed their rivals a financial boost, they have secured the services of a player who Whites boss Marcelo Bielsa and director of football Victor Orta appear to hold in high regard.
He was the fourth and final first-team signing of the summer window, joining Kristoffer Klaesson, Junior Firpo and Jack Harrison in penning a permanent deal at Elland Road.
