Bargain! 5 United signings with value like Vidic

Ferdinand’s eye-catching arrival in 2002 was one of six times United have broken the British transfer record but four years later, Vidic’s January 2006 signing was somewhat under the radar and inexpensive by comparison.

By the time the Serbian left Old Trafford for Inter Milan in the summer of 2014, the reported £7million transfer fee paid to Spartak Moscow for his services looked very much like a bargain, after he’d helped the club to win five Premier League titles, the Champions League, the Club World Cup and three League Cups.

Here we look at five other signings since 2005 who’ve provided similar value to Vidic…

EDWIN VAN DER SAR
Signed from Fulham, July 2005 | Games: 266

After six years of upheaval following Peter Schmeichel’s departure in 1999, the arrival of Edwin van der Sar in 2005 was like sinking into a warm, relaxing bath. And he reportedly cost the club just £2m! Given that the goalkeeping position is so tricky to sort, it was a scarcely believable deal. And, even better, van der Sar was in his 30s, and already hugely experienced. He was just what a young-ish defence built around Ferdinand and Vidic would need over the next few years.