Manchester City have the most valuable squad in the Premier League when it comes to the total cost of transfer fees, closely followed by neighbours Manchester United.
Premier League clubs announced their full 25-man squads on Saturday, along with the under-21 players made available for selection, and it is Pep Guardiola's squad that have the highest combined transfer value, taking a staggering £829.5million to assemble.
City are known for spending big across the pitch, rarely splashing out on one player. The transfer system masterminded by Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Soriano tends to prioritise quality across the squad, focusing on players who have not yet reached their prime years.
Guardiola's second summer as City manager is an excellent example of the transfer strategy that has delivered three Premier League titles during his tenure, where the club prioritised quality in numbers over one or two blockbuster signings — adding Kyle Walker, Bernardo Silva, Benjamin Mendy and Ederson to a side desperately seeking reinforcements in those positions.
This resulted in arguably the most impressive Premier League season to date, finishing with a record 100 points, becoming the first and only side in English first-division history to bear the title 'Centurions'.
Critics have argued City have deviated from their model this summer, breaking the British transfer record in the acquisition of Jack Grealish. However, for Guardiola and City's transfer chiefs, Grealish represented a profile that made financial and footballing sense.
At 26 years old, Grealish has vast room to improve under Guardiola — who has displayed the ability to develop budding English talents to a world-class level — and adds to City's homegrown quota with more stringent changes to restrictions potentially around the corner following Brexit.
Closely following City are United, who have spent a total of £778.7m in transfer fees on their squad, according to DataWrapper.
Bolstered by the summer signings of Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane, United now have a squad with the required level of quality to seriously challenge City, Chelsea and Liverpool for the Premier League title.
Their new signings were in action as Newcastle United were swept aside 4-1 at Old Trafford on Saturday, with Ronaldo finding the net twice on his second debut. The Portuguese star was joined on the pitch by fellow mega-earners Paul Pogba and Harry Maguire, whose massive transfer fees account for £169m of the total number.
United fans had hoped for another signing this summer in the way of a defensive midfielder, with Declan Rice and Aurelien Tchouameni involved in transfer rumours late in the window.
If Ole Gunnar Solskjaer were to sign Rice — reported to be the Norwegian's first choice — United would surely be propelled above City in the 'most valuable' table. Any deal for the West Ham United midfielder is expected to set United back a number in the region of £100m, but many fans believe he is the missing piece in enabling the Reds to reach their potential.
Chelsea and Liverpool round out the top four for the 'most valuable' table, with Arsenal following closely behind in fifth.
