Premier League

DAVID BECKHAM and Roy Keane’s first Manchester United contracts are among the incredible list of memorabilia set to fetch huge sums at an auction.The other items include various signed shirts and team photos, programmes, tickets, pennants and even trophies. David Beckham and Roy Keane’s Manchester United contracts are going under auctionCredit: GettyThe original Eric Cantona paperwork will also be available to biddersCredit: James and Sons AuctioneersThey will go under the hammer with an online auction next Tuesday, hosted by Norfolk-based James and Sons Auctioneers. Head auctioneer David James expects the sale to be a “huge success”.He said: “Many programmes sell for £100 to £500 or more. Our record price is £6,500 for one early programme. “It seems these things are making an astronomical amount of money at the moment.READ MORE ON FOOTBALL”There is lots of Man Utd ephemera and correspondence from Sir Matt Busby. You’ll never see it again on sale.”The collection was owned by a friend of ex-United boss Busby but is now going to be up for grabs for United-supporting collectors. The pick of the items is No170, a collection of six Beckham United contracts, including the first one he signed as a 15-year-old schoolboy in 1991 right up to his final deal from 2002.James and Sons are expecting to sell the paperwork for around £10,000.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERThe original fax from Real Madrid of Beckham’s transfer from United is also going on sale, as are a host of other contracts.That includes those of Keane when he arrived from Nottingham Forest in 1993 and Eric Cantona a year earlier – both likely to go for £7,000-plus.Roy Keane’s Biggest TV Rants Paul Scholes, Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, Henrik Larsson, John O’Shea and Gerard Pique all have their deals in the auction. Finally, there is also a copy of an unsigned and undated letter from Sir Alex Ferguson to Keane thanking him for his twelve-and-a-half years of service to Manchester United following his exit to Celtic. Programmes and other memorabilia from the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and other clubs will also be up for grabs – as well as pieces of history from golf, tennis and boxing. Sir Alex Ferguson landed Eric Cantona in a mega transfer from LeedsCredit: PA:Press AssociationThis signed team photo from 1974 could go for around £700Credit: James and Sons Auctioneers More

PREMIER LEAGUE clubs’ wages have been revealed from last season… and it makes impressive reading for Arsenal.The Gunners finished second behind Manchester City at the end of the 2022/23 campaign despite having only the FIFTH highest wage bill at £235million.Manchester City have the highest wage bill in the Premier LeagueCredit: RexAll Premier League clubs’ wage bills as of last season or earlierFour clubs have a bigger wage bill than Arsenal but they are punching above their weightCredit: GettyMikel Arteta’s men were a long way off Man City – who have the most expensive set of salaries at £423m.But the most surprising disparity is between Arsenal and the trio of Liverpool [£373m], Chelsea [£340m] and Man Utd [£331m].The North London outfit’s wage bill is between £96m and £138m less than those three clubs, an incredible set of statistics, particularly when you consider the struggles of Chelsea and Man Utd.Chelsea finished in the bottom half last season and are still there nearly 12 months on.Meanwhile, Man Utd finished third but below Arsenal in the 2022/23 campaign… and have dropped to sixth this season.Tottenham [£209m] are the only other club to exceed £200m in wages.Aston Villa [£194m] come next, followed by the relegated Leicester [£182m] and financially-stricken Everton [£159m].Meanwhile, at the other end of the wage table, Fulham [£90m] and West London rivals Brentford [£99m] are the only two clubs to have had a squad salary worth less than £100m last season.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSAnd remarkably, both sides finished in the top half last season.Brentford ended the campaign in ninth, while Fulham, who had the lowest wages in the division, managed a thoroughly impressive 10th-place finish.Top 10 highest paid footballers in the world revealed with no Premier League players making the top fiveAll 20 clubs’ wages add up to a seismic £3.8BILLION, although half of that total comes from the traditional big six.Manchester United’s expensive wage bill demands more than the players are producingCredit: Reuters More

MANCHESTED UNITED’S dismal performance against Brentford has “gone down badly in Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s camp”, according to reports.Erik ten Hag’s men produced an insipid display at the Gtech Community Stadium and were incredibly fortunate to leave West London with a 1-1 draw on Saturday night.Erik ten Hag watched his Manchester United side produce a dismal display against BrentfordCredit: PANew Man Utd owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe was reportedly less than impressed by the performanceCredit: GettyYet despite avoiding defeat, the manner of the display has not gone unnoticed by Man Utd’s new minority owner Ratcliffe, 71.According to The Telegraph, the Red Devils’ 2-1 home defeat to Fulham back in February was “dimly received” by Ineos bosses.And Ratcliffe, who now owns 27 per cent of the club, was left thoroughly unimpressed again this past weekend.The report does not state whether or not Ten Hag will be sacked at the end of the season.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHowever, it does claim Ratcliffe believes the sort of football on display is “unsustainable in the long-term”.Man Utd now sit eight points adrift of fifth-place Tottenham and 11 behind fourth-place Aston Villa, meaning Champions League qualification is highly unlikely.Ten Hag, whose last hopes of silverware hinge on the FA Cup, urged his senior players to “take responsibility” following the disappointment at Brentford.He said: “We didn’t deserve to win but we showed resilience all through the game.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKER”But in points of aggression, Brentford were better. We should show more passion and desire in many moments in the game. But when you are winning you should bring it over the line.”You can never compare such levels and performances [to Liverpool] but also when you don’t play well you still have to win – we did it almost. That is my big disappointment that we didn’t bring it over the line.Marcus Rashford’s Man Utd performances described as ‘heartbreaking’ by Jamie Redknapp who ‘wants to see more'”We didn’t play well but there was spirit, there was fight, but not enough. It was enough to get the goal, 1-0, and before that we had a big chance for Rasmus Hojlund.”We have many senior players we should all stand up and we also take responsibility for this.”Man Utd take on Chelsea on Thursday, before a tough home game against Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday.Man Utd face Chelsea on Thursday before they host Liverpool at the weekend More