Budget-minded Premier League fans are contributing to a rise in counterfeit team shirts as Christmas gifts.

Recent statistics indicate that supporters made 48,510 online inquiries for fake top-flight club merchandise from September through early December.

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In contrast, there were just 4,230 searches from January to August ahead of the holiday shopping season.

Counterfeit Manchester United shirts topped the list with 17,730 searches.

The legitimate adult home shirt for the club costs £80, while the children’s version is £55; both can be found for merely £12 on counterfeit websites.

Betting company Footy Accumulators, which analyzed the search trends, commented: “It’s disheartening to see clubs pricing out dedicated fans, resulting in them turning to counterfeit websites for Christmas gifts.”

“Considering the rise in inflation, a family of four looking to buy new shirts would need to spend around £370 at official outlets, while purchasing from counterfeit sites drops the cost to approximately £50.”

“We sincerely hope that clubs across the UK heed these troubling statistics and work towards making merchandise more accessible, preventing fans from having to turn to counterfeit options.”

Interest in Arsenal counterfeit shirts increased by 191 percent in comparison to earlier this year, rising from 680 to 5,940 in the lead-up to Christmas, making fake Gooners shirts the second most popular.

Newcastle knock-offs placed third, with 4,830 searches, showing an impressive 419 percent rise from earlier this year.

Tottenham Hotspur ranked fourth, with demand soaring from 440 to 3,750 searches, representing an increase of 184 percent.

Liverpool closely followed in fifth place with a 169 percent growth, increasing from 460 to 3,720 searches.

In sixth place, Manchester City recorded 3,150 counterfeit searches, substantially up from 420, reflecting a 150 percent rise.

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