Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has mentioned the unavailability of top-quality players in the market is what's forcing clubs to shell out audacious money for lesser-known players.
The Frenchman cited the example of Anthony Martial, and gave his views. English Premier League giants Manchester United shelled out a whopping £36m -- potentially rising to £58m -- for the 19-year-old forward to snap him up from Monaco on summer transfer window deadline day.
"The problem at the moment is finding the players that guarantee you are a better team," Wenger said in a video interview to BeIn Sports.
"What happened last night with Monaco, who sold Martial to Manchester United for €80m, I've heard. Martial scored 11 goals in the French championship – that sums it up well.
"That means it's not the money that's missing at the moment, it's not the desire of investment that is missing, it's the number of players available who can strengthen the big clubs," he added.
Arsenal's summer transfer activities have not gone down well at all with the supporters, as they expected something more from the club this summer. Goalkeeper Petr Cech's move from Chelsea remained the only high-profile signing for the Gunners this summer.
The Czech custodian was bought for as low as £10m, and a move for a star striker like Karim Benzema or Edinson Cavani, who the Gunners were linked with all summer, could have been possible, as money was not an issue,
Arsenal director Philip Harris had said in a detailed interview to Daily Mail a few months back that the Gunners "could have any player" in his side, apart from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
"We could go into the market and probably buy any player in the world, apart from half a dozen who are un-buyable. In the accounts, there's over £200million in the bank. You could say to Arsene we've got no money and he wouldn't worry, or you could give him £100m and he might not spend it," Harris had said.
"At the moment there are no plans to sign anyone, unless he finds a real superstar like Mesut Ozil or Alexis Sanchez. He's looking for one of those but there aren't many available. We would back him to break the club's transfer record. If he wanted the man, he could have him. Apart from Messi and Ronaldo, he could have any player. We will probably have to break the club record to get the man he wants."
Attacking midfielder Jeff Reine-Adelaide remained the only other signing of the club this summer from French outfit Lens, and Arsenal rewarded the 17-year-old for his preseason performances by giving him a place on the club's Champions League squad for this season.
The Gunners are in Group F of the competition, and are drawn alongside Olympiakos, Dinamo Zagreb and heavyweights Bayern Munich.
About his transfer policy, the French tactician mentioned that investing in the right players is more important for him. "Am I happy with the investment I make? Yes, every time," Wenger added. "I bought [Alexis] Sanchez, I bought [Mesut] Ozil, I bought Cech, I bought Gabriel last year.
"You have to find the players to invest in, that can guarantee you to become a better team."
