Funnily enough, last week I was chatting with one of my swimming pals, who follows The Red Filth on tv, about City's then mooted transfer activity and what it all meant for FFP/PL charges etc.
We got on to world record fees paid by our respective clubs over time and I pointed out how The Red Filth are streets ahead of us in terms of breaking such records.
I mentioned that Ferdinand's transfer would be worth the thick end of £62M according to the Bank of England's inflation calculator. Which drew the response that 'it's not so bad compared to what other clubs pay nowadays is it?'
I paused a moment, then explained that Bank of England inflation is only part of the story.. that 'football transfer inflation' played its part too, with the past two to three decades of transfer activity in the Premier League adding to wider economic inflation. None of us can begin to put a number on this but it's been there for sure.. and if a player like Ferdinand we're to become available nowadays, one could quite fairly add a further £30M to that 'original' £62M.
'Oh.. well, yeah..' came the response. They really don't have a clue, do they?!
Anyway, welcome Abdukodir!