Harsh, but true... We were apparently rebuffed by both Coutinho & Dybala this summer; De Jong, & De Ligt too.
Even though our trf record has quadrupled since not long before bought CE we're far from shopping from the top shelf still. No blank cheque book and/or promise of silverware; no party.
Expensive punts(*) like Shanchez, Ndombele & GLC are where we're at (*esp. given the league we play in)... Sure they're high calibre punts, but they're punts much the same.
Elsewhere, let's be honest... Mane, Salah, Keita, Fabhinio, Firminho, were all punts for the dippers too.... Look at all the 30-40m duds the Goons have bought in recent years... It's not inconceivable that even at 70m Pepe could prove underwhelming... Pulisic at 60m. It's ludicrous to think that City, Barca, RM etc. and their scouts aren't aware of the these players; they can just afford to be patient and let them PROVE themselves at 'lesser' clubs.