Competing for the best players? Self sustaining is fantastic and if the owners are happy then great. It should be applauded. We have not bought a world class player in years. I’m not saying we don’t have world class players. The club/pep has developed some players to reach a new level, Sterling comes to mind.
The finished article? We won’t pay the Figures needed as we don’t have the money to spend and still pass FFP.
Have we ever? KDB possibly the only one I’d say. When we bought Aguero he wasn’t world class, he was an emerging player but not world class. Haaland would maybe similar to Aguero, but think Mbappe is now probably at a level and cost we have never bought at.
Not saying we shouldn’t or won’t try but these players will choose where they go and it won’t be solely down to money, they’ll get paid pretty much what they want wherever they go.
You can say it’s FFP it will be partly, maybe also it’s just how the owner wants to grows the club at sustainable levels.
We have built teams that have been the best English team over the last decade. a team that with luck/ decisions going our way could maybe should have at least reached a c/l final.
The last 2 c/l winners have done it with players that we would have turned our noses up at being linked to if we’d targetted them, Gnabry and Mane for example.
I have no idea who we are thinking about as Aguero’s replacement, nor Fernandinho’s for that matter, but buying a player cheaper than Haaland or Mbappe will be doesn’t mean the team can’t compete. If we have to wait until next summer either for financial reasons, especially in a covid season, or because the player we have identified isn’t available, then we wait. Not as if we’re going to be there this season so winning more in future seasons when we are there, because we were prudent, then great.