Man United’S Wage Bill has rocketed by nearly a quarter following the arrivals of Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho. The sum has gone up to £354million a year a leap of 23.1per cent.

The figure came out as the club announced their first quarter results for this financial year which showed club revenues for the period up by 16 per cent to £126.5million.

The club’s Executive Vice-Chairman Ed Woodward insisted that the club’s overriding priority was success on the pitch rather than on the balance sheet.

Woodward said: “While these financial results today demonstrate our resilience through the pandemic, our top priority is success on the pitch.

“The manager, players and everyone at the club are determined to achieve that objective.”

It is on the pitch, however, where the major problems lie with the club having lost six of their last 12 games.

They are out of the Carabao Cup, are still uncertain of progressing from their Champions League group and standing sixth in the Premier League nine points behind leaders Chelsea.