Why the emphasis on price? I couldn't give a feck what the Glazers have to pay to get players in personally. It doesn't really matter how we as fans value players, the only relevant issue is whether we are willing to match everton's valuation of the players in question. Problem we have is everyone believes we are desperate for signings, and that perceived desperation encourages potential sellers to try and force us to pay more than we would obviously like to. It's hardly radical, many of us have been predicting that just such a scenario would arise eventually, simply because SAF allowed the midfield situation to remain unaddressed for so long.
I don't think we are going to be able to get anyone on the cheap. I don't recall Everton touting either Baines or Fellaini as being up for sale, therefore we may have to convince them with an adequate bid that forces them to consider selling. We simply cannot expect to land players by offering insufficient amounts. It didn't work for Chelsea with Rooney, so why should we expect anyone else to act differently under similar circumstances than we would act ourselves?
I really don't get the indignation over price. If some fans don't think Fellaini will add anything worthwhile to our squad, then even if he is available for nothing they still should not want him. Yet some suggest he is not worth this amount, but i'd take him for that amount. That makes no sense to me, because in contrast if some fans do rate him and believe he would improve us, then they just want the player bought, the question of a few million here or there is irrelevant.
For me there is a huge difference between making a serious bid, and trying it on with a hopeful attempt to get players for far less than what the respective club values them at. For instance, if Arsenal really want Suarez, then they have to offer an amount that Liverpool will find it difficult to turn down, offering less than that will only result in the bid being rejected. Same applies to Utd and Fabregas. If he is the main target, and the man Moyes has highlighted as someone he feels will take the club forward, then we should be offering an amount that Barcelona will feel compelled to accept, anything less is not a serious bid in my view, and therefore has to be considered unrealistic opportunism. Potential suitors are perfectly within their rights to make any offer they deem appropriate, but the seller has no obligation to accept unless he feels it is too good a deal to turn down. Football is no different to anything else when it comes to buying and selling, all values are completely subjective, and it boils down to how much you really want something which determines how much you are willing to pay.
If we really want the targets we are chasing then what we may value them at is irrelevant, we will simply have to pay what is necessary to acquire them, or look elsewhere.
Bastard.