Suggesting that Sandro Tonali may prove a relative bargain might seem a stretch at first when Newcastle United have spent upwards of £55m on the midfielder. However, the 23-year-old's best years are ahead of him.
As Eddie Howe put it: "Sandro is an exceptional talent and has the mentality, physicality and technical attributes to be a great fit..but he also has the opportunity and potential to grow and evolve with us."
Newcastle have essentially secured the services of a man earmarked as both a future captain of AC Milan and, indeed, Italy for nearly half the price Arsenal will pay to sign West Ham skipper Declan Rice. Yes, Rice is one of the very best around, but the Londoner has technically entered the final year of his contract at West Ham - even if the Hammers have the option to extend the deal by 12 months regardless.
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Similarly, Manchester United have signed Mason Mount, who was into the final year of his contract at Chelsea, for an initial £55m while Spurs had to pay £40m for James Maddison, who was also in the final 12 months of his deal at Leicester City. Rice, Mount and Maddison will all more than likely prove smart signings, but these England internationals come at a cost and that is before you even take into account the trio's wages, which are well beyond Newcastle's reach.
On the subject of Leicester, the Foxes are also well-aware of the value of Harvey Barnes, the club's top scorer last season, who is another player admired by Newcastle. When asked about Barnes, specifically, at his unveiling, Leicester boss Enzo Maresca appeared in no major rush to do business. "The market is open," he told reporters this week. "Anything can happen."
Newcastle already know that relegated sides are not going to settle for cut-price deals. The Magpies, for instance, remain some way apart from Southampton's valuation for Tino Livramento, having already had a number of opening bids turned down for the young right-back.
It is not just homegrown players who command a premium, either, in this country. ChronicleLive understands that it will take a 'large offer from a big club' for Crystal Palace to sell Danish defender Joachim Andersen, who is also liked by Newcastle.
Andersen's Premier League experience is a real plus point, but Newcastle have not been afraid to look outside the top-flight and the club's transfer policy has gradually evolved over time. In Howe's first window, for example, Newcastle mainly needed firefighters who had played in the Premier League that could plug in right away given the club's dire situation at the bottom end of the table at the time. Sure enough, four of the five mid-season arrivals had previously played in the top-flight.
However, tellingly, Newcastle have made their biggest investments on the continent, bringing in players aged 24 and under before they truly explode in value. These players can grow with the club, whether it is taking Newcastle from a relegation dogfight to Champions League qualification or from top four contenders to trophy challengers, as Howe slowly brings down the average age of the squad.
It is certainly not a coincidence that three of the club's last four major arrivals have come from Europe. Eighteen months on from that first window, it is not just Premier League experience that Howe looks for from the majority of his prospective targets.
"Ideally you would like experience of everything, but there is no player that ticks every box," the Newcastle boss told reporters in his final pre-match press conference of last season. "I'm always a little bit torn on experience.
"But you don't have to have played in a competition to be able to play in a competition. We will look at the strength of the player first. If they have the experience of certain things, even better."
It is rather telling, then, that Bruno Guimaraes, Sven Botman, Alexander Isak and Sandro Tonali account for the bulk of the club's outlay on transfer fees under Howe. Anthony Gordon was the sole exception from the Premier League in this sort of price range following the winger's £45m move from Everton earlier this year. However, Gordon also fitted the club's ideal profile, at 22, and is also viewed as a player with a high ceiling.
The Gordon deal proves that Newcastle will still target players with top-flight experience, but there is a reason why the club are employing full-time scouts around Europe, too. There is, clearly, value to be found on the continent.
