Albion are among the big over-achievers when it comes to Premier League wages.

Figures compiled by football finance lecturer Kieran Maguire show the Seagulls have the 15th largest wage bill on latest available figures.

The Seagulls finished the season six places higher than that in ninth thanks to a high-powered second half against West Ham which pushed them up four places and boosted their prize money by £8.8 million.

In addition, they are only marginally above Leeds in terms of wages paid - but finished eight places higher.

The Hammers themselves are also getting value for money.

They are 12th in the wage bill league but came seventh in the real thing – and were on course for sixth at half-time yesterday.

Brentford rank last, or 20th, in terms of wages paid but came seven places higher than that in the table which counts, in 13th place.

By contrast, Everton, with the eighth biggest wage bill, came 16th.

 

Aston Villa, with the tenth biggest wage bill, finished 14th.

Fourteen teams finished the season within two places of where they stand on the wage bill table.

The research also shows the huge gulf in wages between the top four payers and the rest.

The biggest gap between two clubs in the wage bill section - and by a long way - is the £73 million between fourth-placed Liverpool and fifth-placed Arsenal.