Porto always does this, they are the envy of a lot of clubs concerning transfer fees.
What this highlights really is we need to be better at identifying and signing players like this before they make their name at other European clubs.
We're much closer in stature to a team like Porto than we are the Man United's, Chelsea's, Real and Barca's of this world and as such we should have scouts out there finding gems like Aguero, Falcao and Barrios from their South American teams (or where ever a talented player can be found) and letting them make their name with us, not trying to sign them for four times more after they establish themselves.
Barrios for example scored 49 goals in 53 games for Colo-Colo before Dortmund snapped him up and we were rumoured to be looking at Falcao before he signed for Porto (even Rossi by Redknapp's own admission we could have signed for £18m before later trying to sign him for twice that)
I suppose we have started to do this to an extent with our relationship with Internacial in Brazil which has already seen Sandro come over and surely his value will go through the roof the same with Leandro if we eventually complete that deal.
There are many examples of great players who we could have took a chance on that would seem perfect now though and I do hope we continue looking to unearth rough gems from South America and around the world.
Totally agree with this and Im hoping that the signing of a promising youngster like Coullibaly is a step in the right direction, possibly followed up by Leandro either now or in Jan. And lets not forget Kane who could become a star too.
^ oh please, he cost over FORTY MILLION pounds.
which is why they forced him to sign a new contract pretty much straight away.