10 Most Expensive Man Utd Transfer Flops In History

By Joseph Dempsey /

8. Peter Davenport (£750,000)

When Mark Hughes ended his first stint at Manchester United to join Barcelona in 1986, Ron Atkinson spared no expense in signing his replacement. Introducing Peter Davenport, 54-goal Nottingham Forest hero of which big things were expected of. Regrettably, as with everyone else on this list, things did not go well. After being signed for £750,000 in 1986 - around £16 million today - Davenport initially looked as though he would live up to the hype, finishing the 1986€“87 season as United's top goalscorer with 16 goals. However, his career at Old Trafford was ultimately disrupted by a managerial change when a certain Sir Alex Ferguson replaced Atkinson, arriving with his own big plans and an ambition to knock Liverpool off their perch. Hughes was re-signed after two years away in Spain and appearances were limited for Davenport thereafter, being sold to Middlesbrough in 1988 after spending just the two years in Manchester.